[Induction of fetal lung maturation in the prevention of hyaline membrane disease: the connection with neonatal sepsis].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antenatal maternal corticosteroid treatment on the frequency of neonatal outcomes and perinatal infectious morbidity among singleton pregnancies complicated by preterm delivery.


METHODS
A nonrandomized analysis was performed on 189 neonates of 24-34 weeks' gestation who were born at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Udine, between January 2000 to December 2001. The neonates were subdivided into 3 groups: 1) 143 neonates received 2 doses of corticosteroids in a 24-hour interval and repeated after 10 days; 2) 26 neonates received 2 doses; 3) 20 neonates did not receive any treatment. Data were analysed with the Fisher exact test. p<0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), neonatal mortality and intraventricular hemorrhage was respectively 43.4%, 3.2 % and 6.3 %. The rate of early-onset neonatal sepsis was 4.9% in the 1st group, 3.9% in the 2nd group and 5% in the 3rd group. There were no significant differences in the early-onset neonatal sepsis and the antenatal corticosteroids treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The single or the multiple courses of antenatal steroids did not apparently increase neonatal sepsis in patients with preterm delivery.
Driul
L
L
Clinica di Ostetricia e Ginecologia Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy. lorenzadriul@hotmail.com
Furlan
R
R
Macagno
F
F
Pezzani
I
I
Plaino
L
L
Ianni
A
A
Casarsa
S
S
Zavarise
D
D
Marchesoni
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001724:Birth Weight; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006819:Hyaline Membrane Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015994:Incidence; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D001623:Betamethasone