Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To investigate the main risk factors and pathogen distribution of nosocomial sepsis among premature infants. METHODS: The clinical data of 3418 hospitalized premature infants from January 2003 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed for the risk factors and pathogen distribution of nosocomial sepsis. RESULTS: The incidence of neonatal nosocomial sepsis was 3.10% (106/3418), and the median age at diagnosis of neonatal nosocomial sepsis was 19 (4-48) days. The major pathogens of the infections among these premature infants included gram-positive bacteria (45.2%), especially coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (24.3%), and gram-negative bacteria (41.7%), especially Klebsiella pneumoniae (25.2%), as well as fungus (13.0%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the main risk factors included low birth weight, retention of central venous catheters, and long duration of parenteral nutrition (OR: 3.765, 3.051, and 2.998, respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low birth weight, retention of central venous catheters, and long duration of parenteral nutrition are the main risk factors for neonatal nosocomial sepsis, whereas the leading pathogen is Klebsiella pneumoniae.
