Health care-associated respiratory infection surveillance among Chinese children with cerebral palsy.

Background: To explore the characteristics and distribution of hospital length of stay (LOS) and direct hospitalization costs of children with cerebral palsy (CP) affected by health care-associated infection (HAI).

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed from March 2010 to February 2012 on HAI cases among hospitalized children with CP. Demographic, clinical, and HAI data were recorded. Mann-Whitney test, chi-square test, and multiple linear regressions were used for data analysis.

Results: Of 528 patients with CP, 151 (28.6%) suffered HAI in the form of respiratory tract infection. Male to female ratio was 2.87. About 50 patients had recurrent HAI. Upper respiratory infection and pneumonia were common infections. HAI occurring more than once contributed mainly to total LOS, and the length of HAI was >10 days in >50% of patients. Frequency of HAI was an independent predictor of LOS, and frequency of HAI and LOS were independent predictors of hospitalization costs.

Conclusion: Health care-associated respiratory infection significantly impacted LOS and total cost of children with CP admitted for rehabilitation. These data should assist in establishing preventive and control measures for HAI to help improve the quality of rehabilitation and survival in the long run.