Original Article

Journal of Perinatology (2006) 26, 23–30. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211420; published online 1 December 2005

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

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

P Manzoni1, A Maestri2, M Leonessa1, M Mostert3, D Farina1 and G Gomirato1

  1. 1Neonatology and Hospital NICU, Azienda Ospedaliera OIRM – Sant'Anna, Torino, Italy
  2. 2Service of Ophtalmology, Azienda Ospedaliera OIRM – Sant'Anna, Torino, Italy
  3. 3Department of Paediatric Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy

Correspondence: Dr P Manzoni, Neonatology and Hospital NICU, Azienda Ospedaliera Regina Margherita – S. Anna, C. Spezia 60, 10136 Torino, Italy. E-mail: paolomanzoni@hotmail.com

Received 1 September 2005; Revised 10 October 2005; Accepted 18 October 2005; Published online 1 December 2005.

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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.

Keywords:

retinopathy of prematurity, Candida, sepsis, preterm infant, extremely low birth weight, NICU

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