ABSTRACT
Pediatric nosocomial infection rates vary from 1% in community hospital well-baby nurseries to 22% in NICUs (Palmer, Giddens, and Palmer 1996). Distinguishing between neonatal infections acquired from a perinatal source at the time of delivery and infections that are hospital acquired is difŸcult, and therefore it is typical to count all infections in the Ÿrst 28 days of life as nosocomial unless the source is clearly prenatal, transplacental acquisition. Congenital neonatal pathogens include rubella and cytomegalovirus. Vertically acquired pathogens include Group B streptococci, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus.
