A retrospective study with 69 deaths ocurred at a pediatric hospital in 1993 was undertaken to identify the relationship of nosocomial infection with death. Pneumonia and bloodstream infection were the main site of infection: A higher prevalence of gram-negative bacteria was also observed. The hospital infection was causally related to death in 30,4% and contributed to death in 50,8% of children. The nosocomial infection was causally related to death more frequently in patients classified as having a non fatal disease at admission.
Nosocomial infection; Mortality; Children
