The Implications of Random Antibiotic Use on the Emergence of Hospital- Acquired Infections in the Neonatal Unit, brother RAHMANI Hospital, Algeria: A Case-Control Study

Background: Overreliance on the use of antibiotics results in the development of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) which are concerning issues for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The purpose of this research study was to analyze the impact of indiscriminate antibiotic administrating practices on the incidence of HAIs in the neonatal unit of Brother Rahmani Hospital, Algeria. Methods: A total of 180 neonates were longitudinally followed during a period of time and 50 of them were hospitalized over 48hrs. We focused on the severe cases where the patients developed complications due to their infections in order to understand the underlying reasons behind the HAIs. Applies survey research design we collected information on associated factors of infections with particular attention to use of antibiotics. Results: Throughout the study period, a total of 29 infectious episodes were documented across the 50 neonates with approximately 16.11 IH per 100 days of hospitalization (90% CI). On average, infectious episodes were experienced after 7 ± 0.44 days of hospitalization. Out of the admitted neonates, 54.6% were observed to be female while male neonates were found to have a ratio of 45.4% contributing to an overall proportion of 1.2. The odds ratio, an estimator of the relative risk, means that the risk of contracting IN is 2 times higher in patients receiving anarchic antibiotic therapy. Discussion: The data reveals that the rate of HAIs in the neonatal unit is quite high, and the unregulated use of antibiotics could be a factor in the development of infections. In addition, the average infection onset interval of 7 days after hospitalization suggests a need for better supervision of antibiotic use. Conclusion: The study reveals that introducing HAIs in neonatal units require a more delicate approach when it comes to the use of antibiotics. More detailed studies and the application of antibiotic policies could aid in decreasing the rates of infections within at risk neonates.