Text Box: PATHOGENS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF INFECTIONS IN PICU Zhou YF, Li BR Shanghai Second Medical University Affiliated Shanghai Children’s Medical Center , Shanghai, China Objective: To investigate the pathogens and associated clinical factors of infections in pediatric intensive care unit（PICU）. Methods: 98 cases of conformed infections in PICU between January, 2000 to February, 2001 were reviewed. Culture samples included sputum, blood, urine, feces, pus, other body fluids, Results: The rate of community acquired infection was 47.96% (47/98), nosocomial infection 52.02% (51/98), 45.9% (42/98) were infected in PICU. 80.6% was respiratory infection, and most of the patients had an underlying illness. 42 patients had congenital heart disease, 17 with malignant disease, 7 with immune function disorder and 6 with nervous system disorder. Prolonged hospitalization was mainly responsible for nosocomial infections. Culture results: 30 strains gram positive, 72 strains gram negative, 30 fungi. E coli was the most common pathogen. There were 12.5% methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 72.7% methicillin-resistant coagulation negative staphylococcus (MRSCN). Extended spectrum b lactamases (ESBLs) was found in 47.4% in E coli and 66.7% in Klebsiella pneumonia, 40% E coli and 61.5% Klebsiella pneumonia were resistance to third generation cephalosporin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was highly sensitive to gentamicin, tobramycin, ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: The rate of nosocomial infection is high in our ICU and closely related to the types of primary diseases. Gram negative bacteria infection still is the most common cause. The appearance of MRSCN and bacteria with ESBLs should raise concern. 1886