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Bacterial and fungal infections in infants born before 24 weeks' gestation: a review
Dustin D Flannery1,2, Matthew B Green3, Katrin Mehler4
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. FLANNERYD@chop.edu.
Insights
Extremely preterm infants born before 24 weeks face high infection risks. Addressing knowledge gaps in infection prevention and management is crucial for improving survival rates in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Infants born before 24 weeks' gestational age (extremely preterm) have unique health challenges.
- Infections are a primary cause of illness and death in these infants.
- Neonatal care advances have improved survival, but invasive bacterial and fungal infections remain critical threats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology, microbiology, and outcomes of bacterial and fungal infections in extremely preterm infants.
- To identify knowledge gaps in infection prevention and management for this population.
- To emphasize the need for better data and novel strategies.
Main Methods:
- This study is a narrative review of existing literature.
- It synthesizes information on infection patterns, causative agents, and clinical outcomes.
- The review focuses on infants born before 24 weeks' gestational age.
Main Results:
- Extremely preterm infants are highly susceptible to invasive bacterial and fungal infections.
- These infections contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality despite advances in neonatal care.
- Current data on infection epidemiology and management in this group is limited.
Conclusions:
- Invasive infections pose a major threat to extremely preterm infants.
- Significant knowledge gaps exist in understanding and combating these infections.
- There is an urgent need for enhanced international data collection and innovative strategies to protect these vulnerable infants.
Abstract:
Infants born before 24 weeks' gestational age face unique challenges compared to more mature preterm infants. This includes a higher risk of infection, which remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Over the last two decades, advancements in neonatal care have resulted in higher rates of survival. However, invasive bacterial and fungal infections continue to pose significant threats. This narrative review highlights the epidemiology, microbiology, and related outcomes of bacterial and fungal infections in infants born before 24 weeks' gestational age. This review also discusses major knowledge gaps in infection epidemiology, prevention, and management, highlighting the need for more robust international data and innovative strategies to address the unique vulnerabilities of these infants.
