Medical-associated infections in children

Accurate estimation of the global number of healthcareassociated infections (HAIs) cases in children is diffi cult due to the variation in reporting and monitoring systems between diff erent countries and regions. However, if we estimate that there are about 2 billion children globally, and if to consider that a small percentage of them are hospitalized annually, we can approximate that millions of cases of HAIs are recorded each year. For example, if 1% of children are hospitalized annually, and between 5% and 20% of them develop HAIs, there are between 1 million and 4 million cases of HAIs in children each year. Preventive measures varied in eff ectiveness, but most studies indicated a signifi cant reduction in the incidence of healthcare-associated infections aft er the implementation of specifi c interventions.For example, a study conducted in a pediatric hospital in Europe reported that the implementation of preventive measures packages, including rigorous hand hygiene, equipment disinfection, and proper use of antibiotics, reduced the incidence of HAIs by 30%. Other studies have highlighted the importance of continuing education of the healthcare professionals and involving the family in care processes as key factors in preventing infections. A study from a Middle Eastern hospital showed that the incidence of IAAM decreased by 35% following the adoption of a strict antibiotic use policy and the implementation of hygiene.