Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T21:22:06.546Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Pattern of Culture-Proven Neonatal Sepsis in a District General Hospital in the United Kingdom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Khalid N. Haque*
Affiliation:
St. Helier University Hospital, Surrey, England
M. Ajaz Khan
Affiliation:
St. Helier University Hospital, Surrey, England
Sally Kerry
Affiliation:
St. Helier University Hospital, Surrey, England
Jim Stephenson
Affiliation:
St. Helier University Hospital, Surrey, England
Gretta Woods
Affiliation:
St. Helier University Hospital, Surrey, England
*
St. Helier University Hospital, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 1AA, England

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors associated with the first culture-proven episode of sepsis among neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Setting:

Level-II NICU in the United Kingdom.

Patients:

Neonates with their first culture-proven sepsis between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2000.

Methods:

Demographic data were obtained from the NICU database and chart review. Sepsis was considered early (EOS; < 72 hours old) or late (LOS; > 72 hours old). Data were also collected on potential risk factors.

Results:

Among 14,767 live births, 1,612 (11%) neonates were admitted to the NICU during the study period. Nine hundred eight were screened for sepsis. One hundred twenty-four had at least one positive culture (overall sepsis rate of 8.4 per 1,000 live births [1%] or 77 per 1,000 NICU admissions). Twenty-four neonates had EOS and 100 had LOS. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and group B Streptococcus were the most frequent organisms causing EOS, whereas CoNS and Escherichia coli most frequently caused LOS. Birth before 30 weeks' gestation and birth weight less than 1,500 g were risk factors for sepsis. Resuscitation at birth was the leading risk factor for EOS and respiratory support prior to sepsis, presence of a central or peripheral catheter, and total parenteral nutrition were leading risk factors for LOS.

Conclusions:

A strong inverse relationship existed between gestational age of 30 weeks or younger and birth weight of 1,500 g or less and LOS. Resuscitation and indwelling intravenous catheters were also risk factors.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Auriti, C, Maccallini, G, Di Liso, G, Di Ciommo, V, Ronchetti, MP, Orzalesi, M. Risk factors for nosocomial infections in a neonatal intensive-care unit. J Hosp Infect 2003;53:2530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Haque, KN. Neonatal infections. In: Mcintosh, N, Stenson, B, eds. Textbook Paediatrics, ed. 6. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston; 2003.Google Scholar
3.Sanghvi, KP, Tudehope, DI. Neonatal bacterial sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit: a 5-year analysis. J Paediatr Child Health 1996;32: 333338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Gerdes, JS. Clinicopathologic approach to the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Clin Perinatal 1991;18:361381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Brodie, SB, Sands, KE, Gray, JE, et al.Occurrence of nosocomial bloodstream infections in six neonatal intensive care units. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000;19:5662.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Mehr, SS, Sadowsky, JL, Doyle, LW, Carr, J. Sepsis in neonatal intensive care in the late 1990s. J Paediatr Child Health 2002;38:246251.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Mahieu, LM, Buitenweg, N, Beutels, P, De Dooy, JJ. Additional hospital stay and charges due to hospital-acquired infections in a neonatal intensive-care unit. J Hosp Infect 2001;47:223229.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Stoll, BJ, Hansen, N, Fanaroff, AA. et al.Changes in pathogens causing early-onset sepsis in very-low-birth-weight infants. N Engl J Med 2002; 347:240247.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Stoll, BJ, Hansen, N, Fanaroff, AA, et al.Late-onset sepsis in very low birth weight neonates: the experience of the NICHD Neonatal Research Network. Pediatrics 2002;110(2 part 1):285291.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Doyle, LW, Gultom, E, Chuang, SL, James, M, Davis, P, Bowman, E. Changing mortality and causes of death in infants 23-27 week's gestational age. J Paediatr Child Health 1999;35:255259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Nambiar, S, Singh, N. Change in epidemiology of health care-associated infections in a neonatal intensive care unit. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2002;21:839842.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Bell, MJ, Ternberg, JL, Feigin, RD, et al.Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: therapeutic decisions based upon clinical staging. Ann Surg 1978;187:17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Freeman, J, Goldmann, DA, Smith, NE, Sidebottom, DG, Epstein, MF, Platt, R. Association of intravenous lipid emulsion and coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia in neonatal intensive care units. N Engl J Med 1990;323:301308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Haque, KN. Diagnosis and treatment of neonatal sepsis: it is evidence based. Results of a nationwide survey. Journal of Clinical Excellence 2000;2:3338.Google Scholar
15.Lacey, RW. Evolution of microorganisms and antibiotic resistance. Lancet 1984;2:10221025.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Isaacs, D, Royle, JA. Intrapartum antibiotics and early onset neonatal sepsis caused by Group B Streptococcus and by other organisms in Australia. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1999;18:524528.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Brocklehurst, P. Prevention of early onset neonatal Group B streptococcal disease: guideline no. XX. Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology June 2003.Google Scholar
18.Isaacs, D, Barfield, C, Clothier, T, et al.Late-onset infections of infants in neonatal units. J Paediatr Child Health 1996;32:158161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Khadilkar, V, Tudehope, D, Fraser, S. A prospective study of nosocomial infection in a neonatal intensive care unit. J Paediatr Child Health 1995;31:387391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Ferguson, JK, Gill, A. Risk-stratified nosocomial infection surveillance in a neonatal intensive-care unit: report on 24 months of surveillance. J Paediatr Child Health 1996;32:525531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Weinstein, RA. Controlling antimicrobial resistance in hospitals: infection control and use of antibiotics. Emerg Infect Dis 2001;7:188192.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed