Infections kill preterm infants

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7477.0-b

BMJ 2004;329 (27 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7477.0-b

Infections kill preterm infants

Systemic infections are an important cause of morbidity andmortality in preterm infants. Early onset infections are rare,but they present with signs of sepsis, such as respiratory distressor fever in the first 12 hours after birth, and need antibiotictreatment, say McGuire and colleagues (p 1277). Late onset infectionsare more common, mostly caused by Gram positive organisms, andcan start insidiously. Fungal infections are challenging. Despiteantimicrobial treatment, morbidity is high for all types ofinfections, and new prevention and treatment strategies areneeded.