[Prospective germ surveillance in patients of a neonatal intensive care unit as a basis for the prevention of hospital infection and antibiotic strategy].

During a period of 31 months ending February 1982 all bacterial pathogenes recovered from patients of our Newborn intensive care unit were registered. A total of 834 were isolated, 42% were cultured from the surface of the patient, 50% were cultured from secretions, tubes or catheters and 8% were isolations from blood, liquor or urine, thus proving septic infection. Staphylococcus albus, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were most often found. The pattern of other pathogenes was very variable. High frequency of isolations of one specific germ was always followed by a remarkable infectious morbidity caused by this agent. Nosocomial infections were recognized easily by this program. Hospital hygiene could be altered appropriately according to the bacteria isolated. Antibiotic strategy was adapted to the antibiotic in vitro sensibility of the prevalent bacteria. Aminoglycosides and above all gentamycin were most effective.