The significance of asymptomatic bacteremia for the newborn

So far, there has been no systematic detection of asymptomatic bacteremia in pregnant women. Consequently, its possible effects on newborn infants have not been discussed. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of asymptomatic bacteremia in pregnant and parturient women and neonates as well as to assess its influence on the health condition of newborn infants during the first three months of life.

A total of 626 blood cultures were taken from 353 pregnant women (with single-fetus pregnancy)and their newborns: 156 during pregnancy, and immediately after delivery from 235 mothers and their 235 newborns. Blood culture results were clinically and statistically analyzed along with data on the development of the newborns.

Positive blood culture was found in 12% of pregnant women, in 19% of parturient women and 25% of the newborns. The most often isolated bacteria were: Staphylococcus epidermidis in 36 cases (18%), Escherichia coli in 35 cases (17.5%) and Enterococcus in 20 cases (10%). Asymptomatic bacteremia was found to be in a statistically significant correlation with signs and symptoms of life-threatening conditions (p<0.01), early-onset and late-onset infections and other disorders occurring in newborn infants (p<0.05), mostly of the female sex.

It seems that asymptomatic bacteremia cannot be considered harmless but appears to influence the health of newborns.