Objective: To determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, nosocomial infections in neonates during and after treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
Design: A retrospective cohort study of all infants treated with ECMO during a 4-year period.
Patients: 26 neonates experiencing 32 nosocomial infections, and 54 neonates with no nosocomial infections.
Setting: A large, urban children's hospital.
Results: 30% of neonates treated with ECMO experienced at least one nosocomial infection. The rate of nosocomial infections was 10.3 per 1,000 patient-days. Risk factors significantly associated with nosocomial infection included duration of ECMO > 7 days (mean, 12 vs 7 days; odds ratio [OR], 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 0.96-8.56); neonatal intensive care-unit stay > 21 days (mean, 44 vs 19 days; OR, 8.73; CI95, 2.49-31.94); hospitalization > 50 days (mean, 63 vs 29 days; OR, 5.44; CI95, 1.47-20.87); and surgical procedure before or during ECMO (46% vs 22%; OR, 4.58 CI95, 1.25 to 17.38).
Conclusions: Nosocomial infections occurred in 30% of patients undergoing ECMO. Although nosocomial infections were not associated with an increase in mortality, hospitalization was prolonged.