Low CD8 T cells in neonates and infants prior to surgery, and health-care-associated infections: prospective observational study.

Background: Major surgery suppresses the cell-mediated immune response in children and adults. Data on preoperative and postoperative T-cell counts in pediatric surgical patients and their relationship to health-care-associated infection (HAI) are not yet known.

Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out in a level III multidisciplinary neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit.