BackgroundProlonged empiric antibiotics therapy in neonates results in several adverse consequences including widespread antibiotic resistance, late onset sepsis (LOS), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), prolonged hospital course (HC) and increase in mortality rates.ObjectivesTo assess the risk factors and the outcome of prolonged empiric antibiotic therapy in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns.Materials and MethodsProspective study in VLBW neonates admitted to NICU and survived > 2 W, from July 2011 - June 2012. All relevant perinatal and postnatal data including duration of antibiotics therapy (Group I < 2W vs Group II > 2W) and outcome up to the time of discharge or death were documented and compared.ResultsOut of 145 newborns included in the study, 62 were in group I, and 83 in Group II. Average duration of antibiotic therapy was 14 days (range 3 - 62 days); duration in Group I and Group II was 10 ± 2.3 vs 25.5 ± 10.5 days. Hospital stay was 22.3 ± 11.5 vs 44.3 ± 14.7 days, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed following risk factors as significant for prolonged empiric antibiotic therapy: VLBW especially < 1000 g, (P < 0.001), maternal Illness (P = 0.003), chorioamnionitis (P = 0.048), multiple pregnancy (P = 0.03), non-invasive ventilation (P < 0.001) and mechanical ventilation (P < 0.001). Seventy (48.3%) infants developed LOS; 5 with NEC > stage II, 12 (8.3%) newborns died. Infant mortality alone and with LOS/NEC was higher in group II as compared to group I (P < 0.002 and < 0.001 respectively).ConclusionsProlonged empiric antibiotic therapy caused increasing rates of LOS, NEC, HC and infant mortality.

Background: Chorioamnionitis (CAM) is one of the major risk factors for neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS). Different international guidelines have been developed for diagnosis and care of such neonates. This research aimed to evaluate our neonates and compare them with the guidelines. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted during five years (March 2012 to March 2017), and comprised of neonates (any gestational age) born to mothers with CAM (any criteria). The neonates’ clinical findings and interventions were collected and analyzed. Results: In total, out of 28,988 live born neonates, CAM was found in mothers of 169 neonates (1.7%). Among the studied neonates, 30.8% were born ≤34 week of gestation, 39% had birth weight <2500 g, and 58.6% were asymptomatic. Out of 99 asymptomatic neonates, 47 were observed near mothers and 52 admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The frequency of abnormal tests was 23.07% in asymptomatic vs. 35.7% in symptomatic neonates; three neonates developed culture positive EOS (2.75%) and 68.05% of the neonates received antibiotics. The length of stay was 2.59 ± 1.13 (median = 2.00, IQR = 1.00) days in asymptomatic vs. 15.15 ± 13.67 (median = 7.00, IQR = 15.25) days in symptomatic neonates (P<0.001). Conclusion: The use of guidelines increased the length of stay, lab tests, and antibiotics in asymptomatic and neonates with negative blood culture. In addition to the mother-neonate separation, these guidelines may increase nosocomial infection, antibiotic resistance, and costs; therefore, new guidelines are needed to be developed.