Abstract

CASTRO LOPEZ, Frank W; GONZALEZ HERNANDEZ, Gretel  and  ALFONSO MANZANET, José Enrique. Nursing care for the prevention of postnatal infections. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2005, vol.21, n.2, pp. 1-1. ISSN 1561-2961.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the intensive neonatal care department of "Ramón Gonzalez Coro" Gynecoobstetric Hospital to determine the most frequent risk factors in the postnatal infections and the fulfillment of the prophylactic indexes for their prevention. The work was done from January 1st to December 31st, 2002. All the newborn infants admitted in the department at that time were included and of them a sample of 43 neonates was taken. The methods used were documental observation and collection of data from the medical histories: weight, reason for admission, route of administration of the drugs, assistance with mechanical ventilation and bacterial growth. It was observed that the newborns with hyaline membrane disease (18.6 %) suffered from sepsis the most, whereas those with low weight were the most susceptible to acquired infections (53.4 %). The most infected paths were the umbilical venous catheter and the epicutaneous catheter. The coagulase-negative staphylococcus was the germ with the highest growth (19 growths). The accomplishment of the nursing care updated should prevent the appearance of postnatal infections.

Keywords : Postnatal infections; coagulase-negative staphylococcus; prevention.