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  • Original Article
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Fungal and bacterial sepsis and threshold ROP in preterm very low birth weight neonates

Journal of Perinatology volume 26, pages 23–30 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To determine whether an association exists between either fungal or bacterial sepsis and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study on all neonates with birth weight <1500 g admitted to a large Italian third Level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the years 1997–2001 and screened for ROP. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to detect significant associations with ROP (all grades and threshold) in neonates with birth weight <1000 g (extremely low birth weight (ELBW)) and 1000–1500 g.

Results:

Among 301 enrolled neonates, ROP (all grades), threshold ROP, fungal and bacterial sepsis occurred in 31.9, 12.9, 11.6 and 40.5% of the infants, respectively. At multivariate analysis, only gestational age (P=0.03), colonization by Candida non-albicans spp (P=0.03) and fungal sepsis (P=0.03) were independent predictors of threshold ROP, and only in ELBW neonates.

Conclusions:

Fungal (but not bacterial) sepsis is significantly and independently associated with ROP, but only in ELBW neonates and only with threshold ROP.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Umberto de Vonderweid (University of Trieste, Italy) for help and suggestions in revising the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neonatology and Hospital NICU, Azienda Ospedaliera OIRM – Sant'Anna, Torino, Italy

    P Manzoni, M Leonessa, D Farina & G Gomirato

  2. Service of Ophtalmology, Azienda Ospedaliera OIRM – Sant'Anna, Torino, Italy

    A Maestri

  3. Department of Paediatric Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy

    M Mostert

Authors
  1. P Manzoni
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  2. A Maestri
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  3. M Leonessa
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  4. M Mostert
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  5. D Farina
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  6. G Gomirato
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P Manzoni.

Additional information

This study was presented in part at the Italian Society of Neonatology Annual Meeting, May 21st, 2004, Mantua (Italy).

Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Perinatology website (http://www.nature.com/jp).

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Manzoni, P., Maestri, A., Leonessa, M. et al. Fungal and bacterial sepsis and threshold ROP in preterm very low birth weight neonates. J Perinatol 26, 23–30 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211420

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