BACKGROUND Infection control strategies are implemented in all neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); however, the details of the strategies seem to differ among institutions. The purpose of this survey was to investigate the current implementation status of infection control strategies in NICUs in Japan and to identify and recommend appropriate strategies for the prevention of outbreaks in neonatal units. METHODS This survey documented the current implementation status and methods of selected infection prevention and control measures (active surveillance cultures and standard precaution) in 453 Japanese NICUs/neonatal units registered with the Japan Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine, using questionnaires, in May 2018. FINDINGS The response rate was 48.1% (level I institutions, 25.5%; level II, 55.9%; level III, 64.2%). Surveillance cultures were performed every week and targeted all bacteria in most units. The proportion of level III institutions that experienced outbreaks over the previous five years was significantly higher than that of level II institutions (55% vs 27%, P=0.0003). However, wearing a mask was less frequently recommended in level III institutions (55.7%) than in level II institutions (67.9%). Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most frequently reported bacterial pathogen responsible for NICU outbreaks. CONCLUSION Infection prevention and control practices regarding active pathogen surveillance cultures and the use of barrier precautions varied widely in Japanese neonatal units. National guidelines and evidence-based recommendations are needed to rationalize and standardize current infection prevention and control practices in neonatal units in Japan.

中文翻译：

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对日本新生儿重症监护病房某些感染控制策略实施状况的调查。

背景技术在所有新生儿重症监护病房（NICU）中都实施了感染控制策略。但是，这些策略的细节似乎在不同机构之间有所不同。这项调查的目的是调查日本NICU中感染控制策略的当前实施状况，并确定和推荐适当的策略来预防新生儿病暴发。方法该调查记录了2018年5月在日本围产和新生儿医学学会注册的453个日本重症监护病房/新生儿单位中，目前的实施状况和选定的感染预防和控制措施（主动监视文化和标准预防措施）的方法。调查结果回复率为48.1％（一级机构为25.5％；二级机构为55.9％；三级机构为64.2％）。每周进行一次监测培养，并以大多数单位中的所有细菌为目标。在过去五年中经历过暴发的III级机构的比例显着高于II级机构（55％对27％，P = 0.0003）。但是，在三级机构（55.7％）中建议戴口罩的频率低于在二级机构（67.9％）。耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）是导致重症监护病房（NICU）暴发的最常报告的细菌病原体。结论在日本新生儿科中，有关主动病原体监测培养和使用屏障预防措施的感染预防和控制措施差异很大。