Nitric oxide levels in preterm and term infants and in premature infants with bacteremia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the serum nitric oxide levels in healthy neonates and in infants with bacteremia.


METHODS
We performed a prospective study in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. The serum nitric oxide levels were measured in all infants at birth (basal) and in the infected neonates also on the first 2 days of bacteremia.


RESULTS
Thirty-three neonates (10 term, 23 preterm) were included. Eleven preterm infants (mean gestational age 27 weeks) had bacteremia. The main blood culture isolates included coagulase-negative staphylococci (n=4), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=3), and Escherichia coli (n=3). The serum nitric oxide levels increased during infection in 10 infants (p <0.008). The mean nitric oxide level before infection was 44 microM and during infection 96 microM (p=0.008). In the healthy babies, the mean nitric oxide level was 26 microM in those with a gestational age <27 weeks, 44 microM in those born between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation, and 63 microM in term infants.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacteremic preterm infants produce significantly higher amounts of nitric oxide. The basal nitric oxide levels at birth may be correlated with gestational age.
Marom
D
D
Department of Pediatrics A, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqwa, Israel. dmarom@clalit.org.il
Yuhas
Y
Y
Sirota
L
L
Livni
G
G
Ashkenazi
S
S
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D004754:Enterobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D009569:Nitric Oxide