[The surveillance of nosocomial bacteremia in the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Pediátrico Docente Centro Habana].

A prospective study was carried out in order to assess nosocomial bacteremia in the Intensive Care Unit of the Centrohabana Teaching Pediatric Hospital, from January to May 1988. 66.7% of the bacteremia episodes diagnosed were of a nosocomial origin, mostly secondary. Nosocomial bacteremia rate was 15.5 per 100 admissions, with predominance in the age group under 1 year of age. Risk factors for acquiring nosocomial bacteremia were hospital stay longer than 72 hours, age under 1 year, tracheal intubation, deep venous catheterization and urinary catheterization. The most frequently associated microorganisms were Staphylococcus epidermis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.