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Utility of blood cultures in preterm infants born by cesarean delivery due to non-infectious maternal or fetal indications

Journal of Perinatology volume 42, pages 937–939 (2022)Cite this article

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The early onset sepsis (EOS) risk assessment in preterm infants is based on the gestational age and circumstances of birth [1]. Infants born by Cesarean delivery (CD) due to non-infectious maternal or fetal indications in the absence of labor, with rupture of membranes (ROM) at delivery and without intraamniotic infection (IAI) are at lowest risk for EOS [2]. The current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn recommend no laboratory evaluation or antibiotics in the initial assessment, but include a blood culture as an acceptable approach [3, 4]. However, with negligible risk of EOS, the benefit of blood cultures performed after birth in this population is a subject of debate [5].

The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of such blood cultures and identify the factors influencing the decision to perform them in the preterm infants at lowest risk for EOS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Arpitha Chiruvolu & Sujata Desai

  2. Pediatrix Medical Group of Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA

    Arpitha Chiruvolu & Sujata Desai

  3. Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA

    Abigail Bourland & Kirtan Patel

Authors
  1. Arpitha Chiruvolu
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  2. Abigail Bourland
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  3. Kirtan Patel
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  4. Sujata Desai
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Contributions

AC designed the study, analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. AB and KP collected the data and reviewed the manuscript. SD performed statistical analyses and reviewed the manuscript. AB and KP contributed equally to the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Arpitha Chiruvolu.

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Chiruvolu, A., Bourland, A., Patel, K. et al. Utility of blood cultures in preterm infants born by cesarean delivery due to non-infectious maternal or fetal indications. J Perinatol 42, 937–939 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01405-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01405-6

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