Throughout this study, there are a few objectives that we will try and reach. They include: 

• Discovering and analyzing the effects of nosocomial pathogens have in children's hospitals.  

• Research the aftereffects of nosocomial infections on pediatric patients  

• Explore possible prevention methods catered towards pediatric patients 

• Reach out and discuss with pediatrician Omar Aziz about pediatric patients infected with nosocomial infections in his experience  

• Investigate the ethics behind nosocomial infections as well as the independence when making decisions 

Nosocomial pathogens are defined as infections obtained through a healthcare setting.  

What is the method we will use to acquire our data and information? 

We will gather our information and research from trusted online sources and studies accessible to us on the World Wide Web. In addition, we will further delve into nosocomial pathogens by conversing and interviewing with a pediatrician who works onsite at a pediatric hospital.  

Throughout this study, there are a few objectives that we will try and reach. They include: 

• We are discovering and analyzing the effects of nosocomial pathogens in children's hospitals. 
• Research the aftereffects of nosocomial infections on pediatric patients. 
• Explore possible prevention methods catered toward pediatric patients. 
• Reach out and discuss with pediatrician Omar Aziz - who is based in Ontario - about pediatric patients infected with nosocomial infections in his experience. Furthermore, we will look into his professional opinion regarding the role technology could potentially play in minimizing these infections.
• Investigate the ethics behind nosocomial infections and the independence when making decisions.
• Create a model of the most prevalent nosocomial pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii, to enhance our understanding and perception of these infections.

What is the method for our model? 

We will create this model of the nosocomial infection, Acinetobacter baumannii, out of air-dry clay. As a disclaimer, the model will not be sized true to life.

• Nosocomial pathogens are defined as infections or contaminants obtained through a healthcare setting. 

• Such pathogens are developed upon first arrival at the hospital or within 48-72 hours (about 2-3 days) after admission to the hospital.  

• The negative impacts of these infections are many, aside from the obvious decreased way of life and overall health for the pediatric patient. They prolong the treatment period and make both patients and health centers pay excessive costs, including increased drug intakes/antibiotics and tests. Therefore, through the prevention of nosocomial infections, significant savings will be made in the costs imposed on health centers, the health system, and society consequently. 

• The treatment for these pathogens is especially difficult and complicated as many bacterial infections as possible in children become increasingly multi-drug resistant. A study conducted in the University of Sydney found that many antibiotics recommended for pediatrics by the World Health Organization (WHO) had a rate of less than fifty percent effectiveness in treating children with infections such as pneumonia or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), sepsis, and meningitis, all of which are common nosocomial infections (1).  

• The WHO has issued a statement claiming that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the leading causes of global public health threats faced by humanity. These multidrug-resistant nosocomial infections are more threatening to children as their immune systems and overall health is more prone to bacterial infections. 

• On a global level, 8.7% of hospitalized patients overall are affected by nosocomial infections, with this percentage rate being significantly higher specifically in pediatrics.  

• The infection rate is even higher in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as the lower the weight of the child, the higher the risk of infection particularly with central catheters, endotracheal tubes, or both.  

• A central venous catheter is a thin tube placed into a large vein located above the heart, often through a vein found in the neck, chest, or arm. They can pass infections to the user as microorganisms can attach to and grow on their surfaces and reproduce, causing the spread of such infections. Using a catheter increases the risk of infection by 3-10%. 

• An endotracheal tube is a tube made of polyvinyl chloride (a high-strength thermoplastic material also known as synthetic plastic polymer), these tubes are placed between the vocal cords to provide oxygen to the user and inhaled gases to the lungs. They facilitate the exchange of bacteria due to the pooling of contaminated secretions above the endotracheal cuff (located at the end of the tube), thus allowing for the spawning of different forms of nosocomial infections which inevitably infect the patients in pediatrics. 

• These infections are able to range from any degree from minor infections that may cause slight discomfort to life-threatening illnesses and pediatric patients are especially prone to infection. Additionally, some patients in pediatrics are at increased risk because of the severity and immunosuppressive nature of their illness, which may affect how well a patient's body – or more specifically their immune system – is able to respond to the illness. 

• As a result of the vulnerability of younger pediatric patients, majority of the research conducted regarding this topic has largely been limited to the neonatal intensive care units and critical care units that may care for children beyond the neonatal age.  

• One of the earliest recorded studies regarding nosocomial pathogen in pediatrics was conducted in the early 1960s by T.E Roy and fellow associates. This study done in Toronto, Ontario, Canada reported on the extensive rates of hospital infections at the local pediatric hospital. The study found a 6.5% overall rate of these infections, this amount is notably higher than the 3.2% rate reported from Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Boston. These differing numbers are especially concerning as the hospital in Boston received twice as many surgical patients – which would hypothetically increase the risk. However, the Toronto study found shocking statistics in the surgical wards which had rates of 10.55–24.64%. 

• According to a study completed by the Department of Pediatric Intensive Care and Department of Neurosurgery at Adler Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, UK, Nosocomial infections are preventable in a healthcare setting. Despite that fact, numerous individuals suffer the consequences, especially pediatric children. As children are born prematurely, they are at higher risk of contracting a virus, specifically an infection of the nervous system.(4)

Based on a study completed by The New England Journal of Medicine, nosocomial infections are preventable if the correct practices are done. During this study, the researchers selected 70 pediatric patients at random. Following this, they assigned 38 children to receive normal care, and 32 children to receive care in isolation. Furthermore, the healthcare workers attending to the children in isolation needed to wear disposable gowns made of polypropylene and latex gloves. The results period for the children in isolation was significantly longer than the children in regular care. - https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM198906293202603 

Looking at a study completed in Peru, it is evident that HAI (Hospital Acquired Infections) are running rampant in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. This study observed how many patients were admitted in a 12-month duration period. It was found that from 414 patients, 81 patents developed HAI. Furthermore, they studied 3 HAI’s which included Bloodstream infections, Urinary tract infection, Ventilator- associated pneumonia. From these, they found that children with a central venous catheter were most likely to get a bloodstream infection over a patient with a urinary catheter. - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2431-10-66 

Further to the study completed in Peru, it was also found that children who resided in hospital longer had a high chance of developing a HAI which would increase their chance of death. - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2431-10-66 

In a recent study completed in 2022, it showed which Nosocomial infection is the highest in a pediatric hospital in Iran. During the study, completed over 3 years, there were 718 patients. Further to this, over 60% of the cases were reported in a male child. The results were as followed: 

• Klebsiella pneumonia had an incidence rate of 17.4% 

• Candida was found in 16.9% of patients 

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in 10% of patients  

• Coagulase-negative Staphylococci had an incidence rate of 9.6% 

In addition to these numbers, it was also found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was incredibly sensitive to antibiotics. It was also found that Acinetobacter baumannii was highly resistant to antibiotics. - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12941-022-00496-5 

• The most common Neonatal unit infection was a unrinary tract infection at 11%. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/abs/nosocomial-infections-in-pediatric-patients-a-european-multicenter-prospective-study/19B6863E7E164AC4034ECE90D64F77DA

• The most common viral infection was a Gastrointestinal which was found in 76% of patients. https://platform.cysf.org/project/edit/research/