Clinical Focus ›› 2024, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (8): 728-733.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-583X.2024.08.008

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Effect of prolonged early empirical antibiotic exposures on hospitalization outcomes of premature infants

Xu Yuanyuan1,3, Yu Jianmei2, Zhang Xiuli1, Li Liangliang3, Yin Xiangyun3, Li Xianghong3()   

  1. 1. Department of Neonatology,Maternity and Child Health Care of Rizhao,Rizhao 276800,China
    2. Department of Obstetrics,First People's Hospital of Tancheng,Linyi 276199,China
    3. Department of Neonatology,the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University,Qingdao 266555,China

Abstract:

Objective To explore the effect of prolonged early empirical antibiotic exposures on the hospitalization outcome of preterm infants by retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of preterm infants born with gestational age <32 weeks or birth weight < 1500 g, and to further guide the rational application of antibiotics in preterm infants. Methods Clinical data of preterm infants born with gestational age <32 weeks or birth weight <1500 g in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 were collected. They were divided into short-term exposure group (≤5 days) and long-term exposure group (>5 days) according to the duration of empirical antibiotic application in the early postnatal period. The complications during hospitalization between the two groups were analyzed and compared. Results A total of 291 cases were retrospectively included, involving 166 males and 125 females. The median duration of antibiotic use in the short-term and long-term exposure groups was 3 days and 9 days, respectively. Compared with those of the short-term exposure group, cases in the long-term exposure group presented significantly higher incidence of feeding intolerance (FI), and longer duration of half-intestinal feeding, full intestinal feeding and the length of stay (P<0.05). The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) was significantly higher in the long-term exposure group than that of the short-term exposure group (P<0.05). Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that prolonged antibiotic exposure was associated with increased incidences of FI, BPD, LOS, and composite outcomes during hospitalization. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that prolonged exposure of empirical antibiotics was an independent risk factor for FI and BPD. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the duration of antibiotic use was positively correlated with the length of stay and the length of whole intestinal feeding. Conclusion Prolonged early empirical antibiotic exposures can increase the risk of BPD in preterm infants, affect intestinal feeding, and lead to a longer length of stay.

Key words: infant, premature, infant, very low birth weight, empirical antibiotics, adverse outcome

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