A prospective observational cohort study to determine rate of Multidrug resistance to antimicrobial drugs in paediatric neurointensive care patients

INTRODUCTION:The global rise in use of antibiotics has led to development of resistant bacteria and increasing costs in healthcare. 1Paediatric patients are a high risk population subgroup for acquiring Healthcare Associated infections.Our aim is To measure burden of antimicrobial resistance in paediatric neurointensive care patients.

MATERIALS &METHODS:This prospective observational cohort study will enroll all operative neurosurgical pediatric patients aged between 1-18 year admitted in neurointensive care unit during one year period after approval from institutional ethics committee. Daily monitoring of risk factors, including devices, mechanical ventilation, laboratory indices, cultures, sensitivities, length of NSICU stay, and their final outcome, either discharge or death, will be recorded.The data collection will be  done on a predesigned proforma. The specific HAI-type will be diagnosed according to clinical and laboratory criteria set by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical samples for microbiological culture comprise of blood, urine, pus, CSF and endotracheal aspirates and will be sent once infection is suspected according to clinical criteria set by CDC.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:In a prospective study conducted in 2016 by El-Nawawy et al the incidence of Paediatric Intensive care unit-acquired episodes in was found to be 13.63(n=36/264episodes),which was equivalent to15.6 cases/1,000 patient days.