Healthcare-associated infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients. Critically ill children frequently require the placement of invasive devices, such as central venous catheters, urinary catheters, and endotracheal tubes. Each device increases a patient's risk of acquiring infection. In this review, the diagnosis and management of common healthcare-associated infections in the PICU is discussed. This review also examines several infection prevention strategies used in the PICU.
Keywords: Healthcare-associated infection; catheter-associated urinary tract infection; central line-associated bloodstream infection; hospital-onset respiratory virus infection; ventilator-associated pneumonia.