Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
Epidemiology of readmissions in early infancy following nonelective cesarean delivery
Namasivayam Ambalavanan1, Victoria Jauk2, Jeff M Szychowski2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. nambalavanan@peds.uab.edu.
Insights
Infant readmissions are influenced by factors like maternal antibiotics and prematurity. Understanding these risks can improve neonatal care and reduce hospital revisits.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric readmissions
- Maternal health
Background:
- Infant readmissions pose a significant challenge in healthcare.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and risk factors for infant readmissions.
- To analyze unplanned revisits and hospital readmissions up to 3 months post-discharge.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of data from the Cesarean Section Optimal Antibiotic Prophylaxis trial.
- Examined unplanned clinic visits, ER visits, and hospital readmissions.
Main Results:
- 15.9% of infants had revisits; risk factors included maternal postpartum antibiotics, azithromycin treatment, small for gestational age, apnea, and prolonged hospital stay.
- 3.8% of infants were readmitted; risk factors included antenatal steroids, postpartum maternal antibiotics, oxygen requirement after delivery, and suspected/proven neonatal sepsis.
Conclusions:
- Identified multiple risk factors for infant readmissions.
- Suggests potential impacts on the neonatal microbiome and healthcare access/cost.
Objective:
Determine incidence and risk factors for readmissions in early infancy.
Study Design:
Secondary analysis of data from the Cesarean Section Optimal Antibiotic Prophylaxis trial. All unplanned revisits (unplanned clinic, ER visits, and hospital readmissions) and hospital readmissions (initial discharge to 3-month follow-up) were analyzed.
Results:
295 (15.9%) of 1850 infants had revisits with risk factors being ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.6 for Hispanic), maternal postpartum antibiotics (1.89), azithromycin treatment (1.22), small for gestational age (1.68), apnea (3.82), and hospital stay after birth >90th percentile (0.49). 71 (3.8%) of 1850 infants were readmitted with risk factors being antenatal steroids (aOR 2.49), elective repeat C/section (0.72), postpartum maternal antibiotics (2.22), O2 requirement after delivery room (2.82), and suspected/proven neonatal sepsis (0.55).
Conclusion(S):
Multiple risk factors were identified, suggesting potential impact on the neonatal microbiome (maternal postpartum antibiotics) or issues related to access/cost of care (Hispanic ethnicity associated with fewer revisits).
