Does screening neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit for Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization help prevent infection?

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a Gram-negative environmental organism that can cause severe infection in immunosuppressed patients, including preterm neonates. In recent years, it has become common practice to screen neonates for PA colonization. Aim: To assess the value of screening neonates for PA in (1) predicting the risk of developing severe PA infection and (2) directing infection control practice. Methods: Between August 2012 and September 2015, babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at North Bristol NHS Trust were screened routinely for PA colonization on admission and weekly thereafter. Data were also collected on babies who developed PA infection. Environmental samples from the NICU were tested for the presence of PA. Variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) typing was performed on all strains of PA from babies and the environment. Findings: No babies with positive screens subsequently developed PA infection. There was no VNTR strain evidence supporting cross-infection from the environment or other babies. Conclusion: Screening neonates for PA did not identify babies who subsequently developed PA infection. Following cessation of screening in September 2015, there was no increase in the number of babies identified with PA infection.