Objective: The most frequent burns in childhood are thermal burns and occur during accidents at home. The most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalized for burn is sepsis. In this study we assessed nosocomial infections, isolated microorganisms and antibiotic resistance patterns in a pediatric burn unit.

Material and Methods: Patients hospitalized between January 1, 2009 and October 31 2012 in the burn units of our hospital were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of nosocomial infection in the patients prospectively followed was made using patient- and laboratory-centered active surveillance. Infection rates were calculated according to the Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system.

Results: A total of 576 patients were followed up during the study period. In 42 of these patients (7.2%), 64 nosocomial infections developed. The distribution of these nosocomial infections revealed burn wound infections (64%), bacteremiabloodstream infections (23.4%) and urinary tract infections (4.6%). The most frequent causative agents were gramnegative bacteria (42.7%), followed by fungi (29.5%) and gram-positive bacteria (27.8%). Antibiotic resistance patterns of gram-negative microorganisms were assessed.

Conclusion: Patients hospitalized with burns are very susceptible to nosocomial infections. The treatment and follow up of pediatric patients with burns requires a multidisciplinary approach. Development of appropriate antibiotic strategies and detection of causative agents in the respective patient population of each burn unit are therefore of paramount importance in the accurate and effective management of these patients

Keywords: Children, Nosocomial infection, Pediatric burn intensive unit