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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Assessment of Intestinal Transcytosis of Neonatal Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates
Published on: February 17, 2023
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonization in newborns transferred after earthquake-related trauma: A
Berfin Özgökçe Özmen1, Şefika Aldaş2, Mustafa Akçalı3
1Specialist of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences, Mersin City Education and Research Hospital, Mersin, Türkiye.
Objective:
This study investigated vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization among neonates admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) following the February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake, focusing on post-disaster interhospital transfers, clinical interventions, and feeding practices.
Methods:
This retrospective study included neonates with documented VRE colonization hospitalized between February 2023 and July 2024. Demographic and birth-related variables, admission diagnoses, antimicrobial exposure including vancomycin, mechanical ventilation, length of hospitalization, and feeding practices were recorded. Statistical analyses included correlation analyses and multivariate logistic regression. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
The cohort consisted of 49.7% male neonates, with a median hospital stay of 46 days (range: 2-161). Cesarean delivery was observed in 73.8% of cases, and 62.1% of neonates were premature. The most common admission diagnoses were prematurity (44.8%), transient tachypnea of the newborn (17.9%), and intrauterine growth restriction (6.2%). Antibiotic therapy for ≥7 days was administered to 79.3% of neonates, and 35.1% received vancomycin. VRE colonization was more frequent in 2023 than in 2024, particularly among neonates requiring mechanical ventilation or interhospital transfer. Prolonged hospitalization was significantly associated with mechanical ventilation. Breastfeeding rates were higher in 2024 compared with 2023 (91.9% vs. 70.4%). In multivariate analysis, mechanical ventilation was independently associated with hospitalization in 2024, whereas interhospital transfer showed a marginal inverse association.
Conclusion:
Neonates transferred under emergency post-disaster conditions represent a vulnerable population at increased risk of VRE colonization. Consideration of mechanical ventilation, transfer status, feeding practices support targeted infection control strategies in NICUs during post-disaster periods.
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