Incidence and risk factors for late-onset sepsis in very low birth weight infants / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics, pathogen distribution and risk factors of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).Methods:In this retrospective case-control study, 107 VLBWIs diagnosed with LOS and hospitalized in Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's Hospital from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015 were enrolled as LOS group. Another 107 VLBWIs without infection were assigned as control group with an allocation ratio of 1 to 1. The clinical data between groups were compared using two-independent sample t-test, Chi-square test, sum-rank test and univariate analysis of variance, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of LOS. Results:The incidence of LOS in VLBWI was 8.6% (107/1 239). Among the 107 cases with LOS, 87 recovered with a cure rate of 81.3%. Various clinical presentations were observed, and the most common included lethargy (83/107, 77.6%), abdominal distention (77/107, 72.0%) and dyspnea (76/107, 71.0%). Increased C-reactive protein (CRP) level was the most common laboratory markers (82/107, 76.6%). The blood cultures were positive in 45 (42.1%) cases and the dominant pathogen was Gram-negative bacteria (32/45, 71.1%), especially Klebsiella. The logistic regression analysis showed that mechanical ventilation ( OR=21.181, 95% CI 1.542-290.948, P=0.022), feeding intolerance ( OR=12.480, 95% CI 2.602-59.856, P=0.002), combined application of antibiotics before LOS occurs ( OR=22.457, 95% CI 3.933-128.237, P<0.001), duration of antibiotic treatment before LOS occurs ( OR=1.388, 95% CI 1.158-1.663, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors of LOS for VLBWI. Conclusions:The clinical presentation of LOS in VLBWI are diverse and non-specific. Increased CRP level is a sensitive laboratory marker. The main pathogen is Gram-negative bacteria. LOS are more prone to occur in VLBWI with mechanical ventilation, feeding intolerance, combined application of antibiotics or long duration of antibiotic treatment.