Early antibiotic exposure in very-low birth weight infants and infection risk at 3-7 days after birth

Abstract

Objective: To determine rates of late-onset infection (LOI) during postnatal days 3-7 among preterm infants, based on antibiotic exposure during days 0-2.

Study design: Retrospective cohort study of infants born <1500 grams and ≤30 weeks gestation, 2005-2018. We analyzed the incidence and microbiology of LOI at days 3-7 based on antibiotic exposure during postnatal days 0-2.

Results: The cohort included 88,574 infants, of whom 85% were antibiotic-exposed. Fewer antibiotic-exposed compared to unexposed infants developed LOI (1.5% vs. 2.1%; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.28, 95% CI 0.24-0.33). Among antibiotic-exposed compared to unexposed infants, Gram-negative (38% vs. 28%, p = 0.002) and fungal (11% vs. 1%, p < 0.001) species were more commonly isolated, and gram-positive organisms (49% vs. 70%, p < 0.001) were less commonly isolated.

Conclusions: We observed low overall rates of LOI at days 3-7 after birth, but antibiotic exposure from birth was associated with lower rates, and with differing microbiology, compared to no exposure.