Clinical features and hospital costs of neonatal sepsis caused by bacteria and fungi: a comparative analysis / 中国当代儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical features and hospital costs of neonatal sepsis caused by Gram-positive (G(+)) bacteria, Gram-negative (G(-)) bacteria, and fungi.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 236 neonates with sepsis were analyzed retrospectively. Among these neonates, 110 had sepsis caused by G(+) bacteria, 68 had sepsis caused by G(-) bacteria, and 58 had sepsis caused by fungi.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Full-term infants accounted for 62% and 38%, respectively, in the G(+) bacteria and G(-) bacteria groups, and preterm infants accounted for 86% in the fungi group. The neonates in the fungi group had significantly lower gestational ages and birth weights than those in the G(+) and G(-) bacteria groups (P<0.05). Compared with the G(+) bacteria group, the G(-) bacteria and fungi groups had significantly higher rates of multiple births (P<0.0125). Compared with the G(+) bacteria and fungi groups, the rates of premature rupture of membranes >18 hours, grade III amniotic fluid contamination, and early-onset sepsis in the G(-) bacteria group were significantly higher (P<0.0125). Compared with the G(-) bacteria and fungi groups, the G(+) bacteria group showed significantly higher rates of abnormal body temperature, omphalitis or herpes as the symptom suggesting the onset of such disease (P<0.0125). The fungi group had significantly higher incidence rates of apnea and low platelet count than the G(+) and G(-) bacteria groups (P<0.0125). The comparison of length of hospital stay and total hospital costs between any two groups showed that the fungi group had a significantly longer hospital stay and significantly higher total hospital costs than the G(+) and G(-) bacteria groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sepsis caused by G(+) bacteria mainly occurs in full-term infants, and most cases of sepsis caused by G(-) bacteria belong to the early-onset type. Sepsis caused by fungi is more common in preterm infants and low birth weight infants, and has high incidence rates of apnea and low platelet count, as well as a longer hospital stay and higher hospital costs than sepsis caused by bacteria.</p>