Clinical characteristics and antibiotics resistance of pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in pediatric intensive care unit

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of critically ill children infected with pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA) and PA antibiotics resistance in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).Methods Case records of children with PA infection admitted to PICU in children′s hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University from Jan 2007 to Dec 2009 were reviewed for clinical characteristics,case fatality rate,prognosis and drug resistance.Results (1) Clinical features:12 cases were community-acquired infection and 46 cases were hospital-acquired infections in 58 cases.On the same period,hospital-wide surveillance obtained PA 232 strains,PICU obtained PA 112,the ratio was 48.3%.Twelve cases died and total mortality was 20.7%.The mortality was significantly difference between community-acquired infections (5 cases,41.6%)and hospital-acquired infections (7 cases,15.2%)(P<0.05).The main symptom of children with community-acquired infections were intestinal infection (5 cases) and sepsis (5 cases).The children had acute onset and developed to shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome rapidly.Laboratory examination revealed the white blood cell normal (7/12) and decreased in 5 cases (5/12).The value of C-reactive protein was increased significantly,and the concentration of blood endotoxin were also increased.In the hospital-acquired PA infection cases,the main symptom was respiratory abnormal (38 cases),worsen primary disease,extended staying days in PICU.(2)Drug resistance analysis:112 PA,69.8% of ceftazidime-resistant,72.8% of the imipenem-resistant.Conclusion There is significant difference of the clinical features between PA community-acquired infection and hospital-acquired infection.The former is mostly primary infections with high fatality rate.PA hospital-acquired infection has become an important pathogen of nosocomial infection in PICU.And it is important to prevent PA infection caused by a long term broad-spectrum antibiotics application and invasive medical procedures. Key words: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hospital/community-acquired infections; Antibiotics resistance; PICU; Children