Effect of Initial Empirical Antibiotics Duration on Neonatal Outcomes in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Bag, Nury; Kim, Myo Jing

Abstract

PURPOSE
Little is known about the duration of antibiotics for suspected early-onset sepsis (EOS) with negative blood cultures. The purpose of this study is to identify associations between the duration of empirical antibiotics and neonatal outcomes.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of very low birth weight infants (VLBW) who admitted to NICU in 2007-2010. We defined empirical antibiotic therapy group as those who started antibiotic therapy in first 3 postnatal days. We compared the neonatal outcomes between short empirical antibiotic therapy (<5 days) and long empirical antibiotic therapy (> or =5 days).
RESULTS
Of 122 VLBW, 72 infants were long empirical antibiotic therapy group. In the long empirical antibiotic therapy group, there were lower birth weight, higher rate of out-born, higher rate of vaginal delivery, and had lower Apgar scores. Prolonged antibiotic therapy was associated with delayed start of enteral feeding and incidence of ESBL.
CONCLUSION
Prolonged antibiotic therapy may be associated with some adverse neonatal outcomes. Therefore, wide spread agreement regarding the short empirical antibiotic therapy was needed.