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Late-Onset Sepsis Among Extremely Preterm Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sagori Mukhopadhyay1,2,3, David A Kaufman4, Shampa Saha5
1Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Pediatrics
|January 22, 2025
Summary
Late-onset sepsis (LOS) rates in extremely preterm infants did not change during the COVID-19 pandemic. This large multicenter study found no significant difference in LOS incidence proportion or rates before and during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Late-onset sepsis (LOS) is a significant concern in extremely preterm infants.
- The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted healthcare practices and infection rates in neonatal intensive care units.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in extremely preterm infants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter cohort study included infants with birthweight 401-1000g or gestational age 22-28 weeks.
- LOS was defined by pathogen isolation from blood or CSF after 72 hours of age.
- Incidence was analyzed using multivariable Poisson regression and interrupted time series analysis.
Main Results:
- Among 6509 infants, LOS incidence proportion was 18.2% before and 16.9% during the pandemic (P=0.18).
- The adjusted relative risk for LOS was 0.93 (0.82-1.05) during the pandemic.
- No significant changes in LOS incidence rates or trends were observed during the pandemic.
Conclusions:
- Incidence rates of late-onset sepsis remained stable among extremely preterm infants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- This suggests that established infection control measures were effective in maintaining LOS rates despite pandemic-related changes.
