The Impact of Hospital Complications on Children in Intensive Care

When kids get really sick and need to stay in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), it's worse if they catch infections or other complications at the hospital. These hospital-acquired complications (HACs) can make them stay longer and need more help breathing, which isn't good for their health or for the hospital's budget. A study from one hospital looked at this problem from 2015 to 2020. They used a method called propensity score matching to compare kids with and without HACs. The results showed that kids with complications stayed in the PICU longer and needed respiratory support for a longer time. This costs more money and can lead to worse outcomes for the kids. Hospitals need to think about ways to prevent these complications. It's crucial to provide the best care without adding extra health risks. Some ways to do this include better hand hygiene, sterile equipment, and improving overall cleanliness in the hospital.