Frequency of pressure injuries in a resource limited pediatric intensive care unit of Pakistan: a retrospective study

Background: Pressure injuries are a significant global healthcare issue, particularly affecting children, who are identified as high-risk. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency, severity and most vulnerable sites of PIs in critically ill children admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Methods: We enrolled children aged 1 month to 15 years who stayed in the PICU for over 24 hours from August 1 to December 30, 2023. Two well trained health professionals called skin champions conducted daily comprehensive skin examinations until discharge or death. Location, severity and possible cause of PIs were noted on data collection sheet as well as trend of occurrence noted. Results: Among 1,196 patients and 3077 skin assessments, 53 (4.4%) PIs were identified. Of these, 32 injuries (60.4%) were related to medical devices MDRPI and 21 (39.6%) were due to pressure alone. The upper trunk was the most common site (75.5%), with the occiput being particularly affected (24%). Stage 1 and Stage 2 PIs accounted for 45.3% and 54.7%, respectively. Conclusions: Occurrence of PI was lower than in earlier research, while the frequency of MDRPIs was notably higher underscoring the necessity for improved prevention strategies and ongoing risk evaluations.