Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access

Abstract

Viral Infections in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Sofia Águeda, A Leitão, G Rocha and H Guimarães

Background and aims: The incidence of neonatal viral infections is probably underestimated. Our objective was to assess the incidence of viral infections among hospitalized infants in a level III neonatal intensive care unit, the associated clinical manifestations and outcome.
Material and methods: We conducted an observational retrospective study of patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit over a ten year period (2000-2009), analyzing data of patients with laboratory confirmed viral infection.
Results: A viral infection was diagnosed in 1.7% (n=68) of infants admitted to the NICU: 32.3% respiratory syncytial virus, 17.9% metapneumovirus, 17.9% influenza H1N1 and 13.4% cytomegalovirus. Other less found virus were rotavirus, adenovirus, enterovirus, parainfluenza, herpes simplex and varicella zoster. The medium length of stay was 30 days and most infants were not inborn. In the inborn infants the most common virus were influenza H1N1, cytomegalovirus and metapneumovirus. In 48.5% these infections occurred in preterm. The overall mortality was 4.5%.
Conclusion: In our study the respiratory infections were the most common viral infections and the overall mortality was not negligible. It’s our responsibility to prevent viral infections, as well as help in their early detection and treatment.