Late-onset sepsis in preterm children in a neonatal intensive care unit: a three-year analysis

Abstracts

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência, os fatores e os agentes etiológicos associados à sepse neonatal tardia em pré-termos de uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, de dados secundários de prontuários de pré-termos admitidos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal, no triênio 2008-2010. Caracterizou-se a variável desfecho sepse neonatal tardia pelos critérios da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Empregaram-se os testes do Qui-quadrado de Pearson, exato de Fisher ou Qui-quadrado de tendência linear para as variáveis qualitativas. Considerou-se significante p<0,05. Realizaram-se análises bivariadas e multivariadas entre as variáveis independentes e a dependente, obtendo-se como medida de efeito as razões de prevalências, considerando-se p<0,20. RESULTADOS: Participaram do estudo 267 prematuros. Destes, 28,5% evoluíram com sepse tardia, com positividade de hemocultura em 17,1%. Evoluíram a óbito 8,2% dos pré-termos e, destes, 68,2% eram do grupo sepse. Associaram-se à hemocultura positiva três óbitos, todos com a participação de Gram-negativos. Na análise bivariada para o desfecho sepse tardia observou-se que, à medida que decresceram a idade gestacional e o peso ao nascer, houve aumento de sua prevalência. A duração de ventilação mecânica e de cateter central de inserção periférica por períodos iguais ou superiores respectivamente a 10 e 11 dias se associaram ao desfecho sepse neonatal tardia em 80,8% e 76,2% dos pré-termos. Na análise multivariada, permaneceu como fator associado à sepse tardia o tempo de cateter central de inserção periférica igual ou superior a 11 dias. Houve maior participação dos Gram-negativos como agentes etiológicos, sendo mais frequentes a Klebsiella pneumoniae e a Escherichia coli. CONCLUSÕES: A sepse tardia mantém-se uma preocupação por sua prevalência nas unidades de terapia intensiva e pela associação a procedimentos invasivos a que são submetidos os pré-termos. Ressaltam-se a tendência à emergência dos Gram-negativos na participação da sepse neonatal tardia e a necessidade de melhores e mais eficientes métodos para identificar os quadros de sepse comprovada.

Sepse; Unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal; Prematuro; Microbiologia

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Late-onset sepsis in preterm children in a neonatal intensive care unit: a three-year analysis

Brunnella Alcantara Chagas de Freitas^I,II; Mirene Peloso^I; Lilyane Damasceno Manella^III; Sylvia do Carmo Castro Franceschini^IV; Giana Zarbato Longo^IV; Andréia Patrícia Gomes^I; Rodrigo Siqueira-Batista^I

^IDepartment of Medicine and Nursing, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV - Viçosa (MG), Brazil

^IIPostgraduate Program, Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV - Viçosa (MG), Brazil

^IIIResidency Program in Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV - Viçosa (MG), Brazil; Hospital São Sebastião - HSS - Viçosa (MG), Brazil

^IVDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV - Viçosa (MG), Brazil

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence factors and etiologies associated with late neonatal sepsis in preterm neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of secondary data pertaining to preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between 2008 and 2010 and was gathered from medical charts. The outcome variable, late neonatal sepsis, was characterized using the Brazilian national health surveillance agency criteria. Pearson's Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test and the linear trend Chi-squared test were used to assess the qualitative variables for linear trends. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the independent and dependent variables were conducted to obtain a measure of the effect and prevalence ratios, considering a p-value of less than 0.20 to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS: This study included 267 preterm neonates. Of the participants, 28.5% were characterized as having late-onset sepsis. Positive blood cultures were recorded for 17.1% of the neonates. Death occurred in 8.2% of the total cases, and of these deaths, 68.2% occurred within the sepsis group. Three deaths were associated with positive blood cultures, all of which grew Gram-negative bacteria. The bivariate analysis demonstrated that as the gestational age and birth weight decreased, the prevalence of late-onset sepsis trended upward. Ten or more days on mechanical ventilation was associated with late-onset neonatal sepsis in 80.8% of cases. Peripherally inserted central catheters left in place for 11 or more days were associated with late-onset neonatal sepsis in 76.2% of cases. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that a peripherally inserted catheter left in place for less than 11 days was associated with late-onset neonatal sepsis. Gram-negative bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, were the most frequent causative agents.

CONCLUSIONS: Late sepsis remains a concern because of its prevalence in intensive care units and because it increases the number of invasive procedures that preterm children usually undergo in these units. The authors emphasize the expanding role of Gram-negative bacteria in late-onset neonatal sepsis and the need for more efficient methods to identify confirmed sepsis.

Keywords: Sepsis; Intensive care units, neonatal; Infant, premature; Microbiology

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of prematurity has increased in several countries and has become a relevant public health concern.⁽¹⁾ In this context, the increased number of preterm newborns with lower birth weights and gestational ages has resulted in longer durations in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Concomitantly, the incidence of late-onset neonatal sepsis has also trended upward, with an incidence ranging from 16% to 50%.^(2-6)

As the survival of more premature children increases, the spectrum of infectious diseases changes in response to current medical practices. Current medical practices are responsible for the increased survival of and the selective pressure on pathogenic organisms. Very-low-birth-weight survivors have a significant risk for infection, and the organisms that were once considered harmless and non-pathogenic are now commonly found to be pathogenic. The newborn's gestational age and maturity, as well as the intensity of the required care, should be considered.⁽⁵⁾

The spectrum of etiologies, which now include an expanding role of Gram-negative bacteria, is changing. Gram-negative bacteria are associated with higher mortality rates, especially among children with very low birth weight,^(5,7-9) which range from 19 to 24%.^(7,8,10,11)

To understand the changes in late-onset neonatal sepsis epidemiology, historical changes in NICUs should be considered. Identifying risk factors is mandatory, as is establishing strategies to reduce late-onset sepsis, which should be continuously reassessed to further reduce colonization.⁽¹²⁾ Therefore, hand hygiene is critical, but potentially effective practices that pertain to nutrition, skin care, respiratory and venous access care, minimal handling and accurate diagnoses should also be considered.^(13-15)

This study aims to assess the prevalence factors and associated etiologies for late-onset sepsis in preterm neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit.

METHODS

Study characteristics

This was a cross-sectional study conducted using secondary data gathered from medical charts. The study participants included preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Hospital São Sebastião (HSS) from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. The study protocol was approved by the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) ethics committee under protocol number 063/2011.

Cases

The HSS is a hospital located in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil and has become a referral center for treatment of high-risk pregnancies since 2009. The NICU opened in March 2004 and is responsible for patients from the hospital itself and those referred from other institutions. The unit has nine beds, and 1,059 children have been admitted from the opening until December 2010. This study included premature neonates, independent of their place of birth, who stayed in the hospital beyond the first two days of life and who were followed until discharge from the NICU or death. Patients who were discharged or who died before reaching two days of age were excluded.

Assessed variables

The outcome variables were categorized into the following two groups: the patients who developed late-onset neonatal sepsis (the "sepsis group" - SG) and the patients who did not develop sepsis ("non-sepsis group" - NSG).

Late-onset neonatal sepsis was defined as occurring after the first 48 hours of life, as indicated by the Brazilian health surveillance agency (ANVISA).^(3,16) The unit's criteria were adopted during the study. Therefore, clinical sepsis was diagnosed if at least one of the clinical criteria (apnea, bradycardia, unstable temperature, food intolerance, worsened respiratory distress, glucose intolerance, hemodynamic instability, hypoactivity/lethargy) was present in association with the following: (a) a blood count with > 3 parameter changes and/or increased quantitative C-reactive protein was recorded; (b) a blood culture was not performed or was negative; c) there was no evidence of infection at any other sites; (d) antimicrobial therapy was started by the treating physician.⁽¹⁶⁾ Bacteriologically confirmed sepsis was defined by a positive blood culture. This culture must have been obtained from one single blood draw of at least 1 mL.⁽¹⁷⁾

Brain heart infusion (BHI) broth was used for the cultures. When positive growth was detected after 24 hours of incubation, Gram staining and seeding in conventional microbiological media (agar-chocolate and agar-agar) were performed, and subsequently, the bacteria were identified.

Gestational age (GA) was best estimated using early gestational ultrasonography (less than 20 weeks gestation), the date of the last period, obstetric notes and clinical examinations.⁽⁷⁾ Gestational age was categorized as less than 28 weeks (extremely premature), 28-31 weeks (very premature) and 32 or more weeks (moderately premature).⁽¹⁸⁾

Birth weight was categorized as extremely low birth weight (ELB; birth weight less than 1,000 g); very low birth weight (VLB; birth weight between 1,000 and 1,499 g); low birth weight (LB; or birth weight between 1,500 and 2,499 g); and newborns with birth weights of 2,500 g or more.⁽¹⁸⁾

The other variables were dichotomized into "yes" or "no" categories. These variables included newborn referral from another institution, cesarean section, a five-minute Apgar score of less than seven, ten or more days on mechanical ventilation (MV), and maintenance of peripherally inserted central venous access (CVA) for 11 or more days. Any surgical procedures performed were recorded. The gender (male or female) of the infant was also noted.

The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to choose the best cutoff points for MV and CVA times for correlation with late-onset sepsis.

Statistical analysis

The data were retrieved from the medical charts using a semi-structured form specifically designed for this study. The sample size was calculated with Stat Calc Epi Info 7.0 software, using a prevalence of 24%, a confidence level of 95% and a sample error of 4%. Given these parameters, a sample of 265 patients was required.

Pearson's Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and a linear trend Chi-squared test were used to assess the qualitative variables. Results associated with p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the independent and dependent variables were conducted to obtain the prevalence ratio (PR) using the Poisson regression and considering a p-value less than 0.20.⁽¹⁹⁾ The SPPS version 17.0 and Stata version 9 software packages were used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

During the study's time span, 502 patients were admitted to the unit (47.4% of the total population admitted since the opening), and of the admitted patients, 336 were preterm (66.9%). A total of 293 medical charts were reviewed. Of these, 267 preterm neonates met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study.

Late-onset neonatal sepsis was observed in 28.5% (76/267) of the neonates, and 17.1% (13/76) of these neonates had positive blood culture (Figure 1). A total of 22 children died (8.2%), and 68.2% were part of the SG. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from three of the patients who died by five days of age (E. coli), by eight days of age (Pseudomonas spp.), and by nine days of age (Klebsiella pneumoniae). Two of the three children were very premature, and one was extremely premature.

A total of 63.1% of the preterm deliveries were performed by cesarean section, 17.6% were born at other institutions, 54.5% were male, and 9.5% had five-minute Apgar scores of less than seven. Of the included neonates, 11.2% were extremely premature, 31.1% were very premature, and 57.7% were moderately premature. A total of 12.4% had ELB, 32.2% had VLB, and 41.9% had LB; the remaining 13.5% had birth weights of 2,500 g or more. Of the included neonates, 25.1% had central venous access in place for 11 days or longer, and 17.6% were on MV for 10 days or longer. Nine patients underwent surgical procedures (3.4%).

Table 1 illustrates the association between late-onset neonatal sepsis and population characteristics. No differences were observed between the groups (SG and NSG) in regard to the following characteristics: referral from another institution, cesarean section, and gender (p > 0.05). However, the analysis revealed that as GA and birth weight decreased, the incidence of late-onset sepsis trended upward (p < 0.0001).

MV for 10 or more days and CVA for 11 or more days were associated with late-onset neonatal sepsis in 80.8% and 76.2% of the preterm newborns, respectively (p < 0.0001). In the SG, 66.7% of the newborns underwent surgical procedures; the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.018). Similarly, the occurrence of five-minute Apgar scores of less than seven was different between the groups (p = 0.037).

Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted for the late-onset sepsis outcome variables, resulting in a p-value of less than 0.20. The calculation model is shown in Table 2. The prevalence of late-onset sepsis was 397% higher in premature neonates with CVA for 11 or more days than in those with CVA for less than 11 days.

The data in Figure 2 data indicate that among the 76 patients who developed late-onset neonatal sepsis (n = 76; 28.5%), 13 (17.1%) had a positive blood culture; Gram-negative bacteria were commonly identified (n = 8; 61.5%), and the strains included Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=3), Escherichia coli (n=2), Klebsiella spp. (n=1), Enterobacter spp. (n=1) and Pseudomonas spp. (n=1). The Gram-positive bacteria that were identified included oxacillin-sensitive Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=2), oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=1), Staphylococcus aureus (n=1) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (n=1). No fungi were isolated.

DISCUSSION

The incidence of late-onset neonatal sepsis (28.5%) in this study was comparable to that reported in the medical literature (16% to 50%).^(2-6) However, the proportion of positive blood cultures among the patients with sepsis (17.1%) was lower than the figures reported in the literature (18% to 65%).^(6,7,20,21)

The blood cultures from the three patients who died revealed Gram-negative bacteria, raising the possibility that these agents are associated with increased mortality. This finding agrees with Cohen-Wolkowiez et al. and Gordon et al., who found that increased mortality ranging from 19% to 24% was related to Gram-negative bacteria.^(7,8) Kayange et al. also found that increased mortality was associated with positive blood cultures.⁽¹¹⁾

In our results, the duration of central venous access was an independent factor associated with late-onset neonatal sepsis. This finding is supported by other authors who found an association between late infection and invasive procedures.^(22-24)

The prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria in late-onset sepsis has also been documented in other reports. Graham et al. reported a higher prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria, which are likely to be associated other risk factors and preventive measures compared with Gram-positive bacteria and Candida spp.⁽²²⁾ Furthermore, other authors have reported that the maintenance of peripherally inserted central venous access and other invasive procedures, such as mechanical ventilation, are risk factors for Gram-negative sepsis.^(10,22,25) The study by Nambiar et al. demonstrates a higher prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria (43%), predominantly Enterobacter spp.⁽²⁶⁾

A high proportion of Klebsiella pneumoniae among isolated Gram-negative bacteria was also documented by Tragante et al. and Meireles et al.^(4,21) However, some studies have reported a predominance of Gram-positive bacteria, including coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Among cultured Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacter spp., were isolated most frequently.^{(3,6,12,27-29)} An American study assessing only late-premature children has demonstrated that S. aureus and E. coli are often present in blood cultures.⁽⁷⁾

The cross-sectional and retrospective nature of this study is a limitation. A causative relationship cannot be identified from this type of study. This study only allows for an analysis of associations. In addition, this study is subject to information bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Late-onset sepsis remains a concern due to its prevalence in neonatal intensive care units and its association with invasive procedures commonly performed on preterm neonates. The increasing participation of Gram-negative bacteria in late-onset neonatal sepsis should be emphasized, as should the need for more efficient methods to identify cases of proven sepsis.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  24 Apr 2012
• Date of issue
  Mar 2012

History

• Received
  18 Nov 2011
• Accepted
  01 Mar 2012