Nosocomial infections of small children are especially problem in Poland. These patients demonstrated sometimes very serious complications. The aim of this study was a retrospective analysis of nosocomial and home infections in 187 hospitalized 1984-1990 children (neonates and infants up to 6mo). It was indicated that neonates were admitted mainly because of hospital infections (93%). Those infections in infants were rarer (69%). Purulent meningoencephalitis was observed in 29 newborns and 4 infants with the hospital infections and in one neonate with home infection. Sepsis was diagnosed in 14 neonates as well as in 2 infants in the course of the nosocomial infections. Salmonella and E.coli appeared as the most frequent agents of both hospital and home infections. These results shows that the course of hospital infections is more serious than the home infections.

Keywords: infections, neonates, infants