[Results of surveillance cultures on a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective analysis]

Microbiological screening (MS) is standard on neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Objectives are the collection of information regarding bacterial pathogens of the individual patient as well as of the NICU, especially of multidrug-resistant pathogens (MRE). The role of microbiological screening for preterm infants ≤32 weeks of gestational age has not been fully evaluated.

For preterm infants ≤32 weeks of gestational age admitted during a 41-month period the results of microbiological screening during the first 2 weeks of life were analysed retrospectively. The results were associated with documented septic episodes.

Bacteria were isolated in 215/972 of postnatal and 416/862 of later swabs. Detection of bacteria in the initial MS was associated with vaginal birth, low gestational age, low APGAR values at 5 and 10 min and mechanical ventilation. The proportion of patients with positive microbiological screening in subsequent swabs was not influenced by gestational age, birth weight, sex, mode of delivery and APGAR score. During the observation period 52 cases of sepsis (28 clinic, 24 microbiological) occurred. The sepsis rate was increased in patients with positive postnatal swabs, low gestational age, low birth weight, low 5 min APGAR score, male sex or need for mechanical ventilation.

Microbiological screening provides an overview of the NICU-specific pathogens but is of limited value in the prediction of septicaemias in preterm infants ≤32 weeks gestational age.