Quality of antenatal care as a risk factor for early onset neonatal infections in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Background: Neonatal infection is a serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the antenatal care on the risk of early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection in two Brazilian maternities. Methods: Cohort study - Newborns admitted at two public neonatal intensive care units from 2008 to 2009 were included in the study. Data on antenatal and perinatal variables were collected from maternal prenatal cards and medical charts. Newborns were actively surveyed for early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection, defined as a neonatal infection diagnosed within 48 h after birth. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess variables independently associated with early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection. Results: 561 neonate-mother pairs were included in the study. Early-onset neonatal health-care associated infection was diagnosed in 283 neonates (51%), an incidence rate of 43.5/1000 live births. Neonates whose mothers had less then six antenatal visits were under risk significantly higher for early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.11-2.57), after adjusting for birth weight, membranes ruptured for >18 h, maternal complications during delivery, maternal infection at admission, and hospital where patients received care. Conclusions: The risk of neonatal early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection was significantly associated with insufficient number of antenatal care visits. Further studies assessing the quality of antenatal care and targeting its improvement are warranted. .

Quality of antenatal care as a risk factor for early onset neonatal infections in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal infection is a serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the antenatal care on the risk of early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection in two Brazilian maternities. METHODS: Cohort study - Newborns admitted at two public neonatal intensive care units from 2008 to 2009 were included in the study. Data on antenatal and perinatal variables were collected from maternal prenatal cards and medical charts. Newborns were actively surveyed for early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection, defined as a neonatal infection diagnosed within 48h after birth. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess variables independently associated with early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection. RESULTS: 561 neonate-mother pairs were included in the study. Early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection was diagnosed in 283 neonates (51%), an incidence rate of 43.5/1000 live births. Neonates whose mothers had less then six antenatal visits were under risk significantly higher for early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection (OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.11-2.57), after adjusting for birth weight, membranes ruptured for >18h, maternal complications during delivery, maternal infection at admission, and hospital where patients received care. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of neonatal early-onset neonatal healthcare associated infection was significantly associated with insufficient number of antenatal care visits. Further studies assessing the quality of antenatal care and targeting its improvement are warranted.

Ralstonia pickettii and Burkholderia cepacia complex bloodstream infections related to infusion of contaminated water for injection.

Ralstonia pickettii and Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates are causes of healthcare-associated infection related to contamination of intravenously administered products. Based on microbiological and epidemiological data and molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we report the occurrence of two outbreaks of R. pickettii and B. cepacia complex bloodstream infections. The first outbreak occurred from August 1995 to September 1996, and the second outbreak occurred from 28 March to 8 April 1998, affecting adults and neonates, respectively. Infusion of contaminated water for injection was the source of infection.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a neonatal intensive care unit: risk factors for infection and colonization.

An outbreak of extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBLKp) infections in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) prompted a prospective investigation of colonization and infection with this pathogen. From August 1, 1997 to May 30, 1999, neonates admitted to the NICU for more than 24 h were screened for ESBLKp acquisition. Neonatal gastrointestinal screening was performed by means of faecal sampling within 48 h of admission and then weekly until discharge. Isolates were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Time-dependent proportional hazard models were used to identify independent effects of invasive procedures and antimicrobials after controlling for duration of stay at the NICU. During the study period, 464 neonates were admitted and 383 were regularly screened. Infections occurred in 13 (3.4%) neonates and 206 (53.8%) became colonized. Independent risk factors for colonization during the first nine days in the NICU were the antimicrobial combination cephalosporin plus aminoglycoside [hazard rate (HR)=4.60; 95% CI: 1.48-14.31], and each NICU-day was associated with a 26% increase in the hazard rate for colonization (HR=1.26; 95% CI: 1.16-1.37). Previous colonization (HR=5.19; 95% CI: 1.58-17.08) and central vascular catheter use (HR=13.89; 95% CI: 2.71-71.3) were independent risk factors for infection. In an outbreak setting the proportion of neonates colonized with ESBLKp was observed to increase with the duration of stay and antimicrobial use, and once colonized, infants exposed to invasive devices may become infected.

Neonatal late-onset bloodstream infection: attributable mortality, excess of length of stay and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infection represents a major threat among neonates under intensive care with considerable impact on morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated extra stay, attributable mortality and the risk factors associated with late-onset bloodstream infection (LO-BSI) among neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit during a 4-year period. METHODS: A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted. For each case, there was one control patient without LO-BSI matched for sex, birth weight, gestational age, duration of hospitalization prior to the date of LO-BSI in the respective cases, underlying illness and birth date. A novel test, sequential plan, was employed for attributable mortality analysis in addition to standard tests. Multiple logistic regression was employed for risk factor analysis. RESULTS: Fifty pairs of cases and controls were compared. LO-BSI prolonged hospital stay of 25.1 days in pairs where both subjects survived. Overall attributable mortality was 24% (95% CI: 9-39% p < 0.01) and specific attributable mortality due to Staphylococcus epidermidis was 26.7% (95% CI: 23-30.4%; p = 0.01). Blood and/or blood components transfusion was independently associated with neonatal LO-BSI (OR: 21.2; 95% CI: 1.1-423). CONCLUSIONS: LO-BSI infection prolongs hospital stay and is associated with increased mortality among neonates. In the present series, blood transfusion was a significant risk factor for LO-BSI.