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A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
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Perinatal bacterial colonization and neonatal early-onset sepsis: A case-control study
S X Y Foo1, C S E Lim2, R de la Puerta1
1Department of Neonatology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
|July 11, 2022
Summary
Neonatal surface colonization, not maternal, significantly predicts early-onset sepsis (EOS) in newborns, especially with Gram-negative bacteria. This finding aids in understanding sepsis risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal infections
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The clinical significance of maternal and neonatal surface colonization at birth for predicting early-onset sepsis (EOS) remains uncertain.
- Standard microbiological cultures are used to assess this colonization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between maternal and neonatal surface bacterial colonization at birth and the incidence of neonatal EOS.
- To identify key predictors of EOS in newborns.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted involving newborns from 2009 to 2017.
- Cases were infants with blood-culture-confirmed EOS; controls were infants without EOS.
- Bacterial surface colonization was determined using maternal genitourinary and neonatal ear swab cultures.
Main Results:
- Escherichia coli and Group B Streptococcus were the predominant pathogens causing EOS.
- Infants with EOS showed higher rates of both maternal (60% vs. 40%) and neonatal (90% vs. 11%) surface colonization.
- Neonatal colonization was strongly associated with EOS (AOR 15.0, p < 0.001) after adjusting for confounders.
Conclusions:
- In this study population, predominantly affected by Gram-negative bacteria, neonatal surface colonization was a significant predictor of EOS.
- Maternal surface colonization was not found to be significantly associated with EOS in the newborn.
