Background: We determined the prevalence and risk factors for late-onset bloodstream infections (LO-BSI), the distribution of pathogens and the outcomes of affected preterm infants.
Methods: The records of all preterm infants (<37 weeks gestation) born between 2004 and 2005 and hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit for >3 days were retrieved for this retrospective matched case-control study.
Results: A total of 108 out of 1459 preterm infants (7.4%) had 142 episodes of LO-BSI. The highest LO-BSI rate (44%) was among 198 very-low-birthweight infants (<1500 g). The most common causative organisms were Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Klebsiella (60% and 13%, respectively). The mean hospital stay was 64 days for LO-BSI preterm infants versus 48 days for non-LO-BSI preterm infants. Congenital malformations and peripheral catheters were independent risk factors for LO-BSI. Crude mortality rates were 6.9% (LO-BSI) and 3.0% (non-LO-BSI), with an LO-BSI-attributable mortality of 3.9%.
Conclusion: LO-BSI frequently affect very-low-birthweight infants. Strategies to prevent LO-BSI should target peripheral catheters.
© 2012 The Authors. Pediatrics International © 2012 Japan Pediatric Society.