Epidemiology and drug resistance analysis of bloodstream infections in an intensive care unit from a children's medical center in Eastern China for six consecutive years.

Background: Children in the intensive care unit (ICU) who suffer from severe basic diseases and low immunity are usually in critical condition. It is crucial to assist clinicians in selecting the appropriate empirical antibiotic therapies for clinical infection control.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 281 children with bloodstream infection (BSI). Comparisons of basic data, pathogenic information, and drug resistance of the main bacteria were conducted.

Results: We detected 328 strains, including Gram-positive bacteria (223, 68%), mainly coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS); Gram-negative bacteria (91, 27.7%); and fungi (14, 4.3%). The results of the binary logistic regression analysis showed that the main basic disease was an independent risk factor for death. Compared with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited a higher proportion of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), and its resistance to some β-lactamides and quinolones antibiotics were lower. Twenty-seven isolates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria were detected, of which carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) accounted for the highest proportion (13, 48.2%).

Conclusions: CoNS was the principal pathogen causing BSI in children in the ICU of children, and Escherichia coli was the most common Gram-negative pathogen. The main basic disease was an independent risk factor for death. It is necessary to continuously monitor patients with positive blood cultures, pay special attention to detected MDR bacteria, and strengthen the management of antibiotics and prevention and control of nosocomial infections.