Surveillance for Healthcare associated Infections in Indian NICUs: Researchable Issues

Abstract

Systematic surveillance is the first and integral step of all infection control measures, especially in intensive care settings. Surveillance systems started evolving in developed countries nearly 40 years ago. With experience and wisdom gained, the surveillance methods have improved and become more standardized. It is now clearly recognized that all patients are not at equal risk. For fair comparisons over time within an unit and in between units, the denominator must take the underlying risk into account. Infection surveillance in the NICU presents a number of unique challenges regarding definitions and differing symptoms and signs in the neonate. Although the importance of surveillance is being increasingly recognized in our country and the methods of developed countries are being adopted, there are numerous issues which need local research. This is in view of the limited manpower and financial resources and different profile of organisms and their epidemiology.