Russia-wide epidemiological survey of congenital and nosocomial infections in newborns

High prevalence and great socio-economic impact of nosocomial infections is documented in obstetric hospitals. Objective: to uncover Russia-wide epidemiological features for congenital and nosocomial infections in newborns. Material and Methods: the data covering 2008–2016 period were retrieved from the Federal Statistical Monitoring Form No. 2 “Report on Infectious and Parasitic Diseases”, via the Unified Interdepartmental Information Statistical System. During 2008–2016, incidence of congenital and nosocomial infections in newborns was analyzed in various constituents of the Russian Federation, which were divided into quartile groups including confidence interval. Results: It was found that the increased/decreased/unchanged incidence of congenital infections in newborns was shown in 30, 31 and 13 subjects, respectively. In case of nosocomial infections in newborns, its incidence was increased/decreased/unchanged in 7, 41 and 26 subjects, respectively. Moreover, a congenital/nosocomial infection ratio in newborns was increased/decreased/ unchanged in 40, 15 and 19 subjects, respectively. Based on the morbidity pattern, 9 major groups might be distinguished. In particular, the most abundant (16 subjects) was the group with increased incidence of congenital infections, decreased incidence of nosocomial infections and increased congenital/nosocomial infection ratio in newborns. However, it is worth mentioning that recording of nosocomial infection cases is incomplete in the vast majority of the subjects of the Russian Federation: as few as seven subjects may be highlighted providing a proper registration of nosocomial and congenital infections in newborns such as: Vologda Region, Trans-Baikal Territory, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Omsk Region, Orenburg Region, Penza Region, and Sverdlovsk Region. Conclusion: to fully assess an objective status on nosocomial and congenital infections in newborns, it is necessary that a hospital epidemiologist investigates every single case; ensure applying a standard approach to determine a case of healthcare-associated infection, congenital infections; official recording of all cases; responsibility of all staff members involved in recording healthcare-associated infection cases; regularly reviewed data by using science-based methods. Key words: congenital infections, nosocomial infections, healthcare associated infections, registration, incidence, mortality.