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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
[Germ circulation in neonatal units--risk factors for maternal-foetal infection]
Genoveva Vasilcan1, Andreea Avasiloaiei, Mihaela Moscalu
1Facultatea de Medicină, Universităţii de Medicină si Farmacie Gr.T.Popa Iaşi.
Unlabelled:
Infections are the third most important cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal units. Infection rates are 2-5% in I-II level units, 10% in IIIrd level units and 7-24% in NICUs.
Aim:
To identify risk factors contributing to maternal-foetal and hospital infections in neonatal units of different levels in two maternity hospitals in Romania: Buna Vestire Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Galati (Lot A) and Cuza-Voda Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Iasi (Lot B).
Material And Methods:
This is a retrospective and prospective study during four years in two neonatal units in maternity hospitals of different levels from Moldova: level II - Lot A and level III - Lot B.
Results:
Neonatal infection rates were significantly higher in preemies compared to term newborns (5.91% - Lot A vs. 9.9% - Lot B). Predominant maternal colonization and infection bacteria were E. coli (16.12% - Lot A vs. 12.6% - Lot B) and S. aureus (1.3% - Lot A vs. 2.03% - Lot B). Personnel colonization, predominantly with MRSA, presented little hazard for neonatal infection (RR 0.9 - Lot A, RR 0.7 - Lot B). Hospital environment contamination also presented minor risk for neonatal infection (RR 1.7 - Lot A, RR 0.2 - Lot B).
Conclusions:
The main risk factors for neonatal infections were gestational age (premature infants have immunological underdevelopment) and maternal colonization. Personnel colonization and hospital contamination are of little importance in the development of neonatal infections.
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