title: [Epidemiological study of severe sepsis in a newborn intensive care unit].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence and outcome of severe sepsis in Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and to characterize their demographics and infection pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  Characteristics of 243 newborns admitted to NICU from June 1st, 2006 to May 31st, 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of data derived from 243 newborns admitted to NICU over an 1-year period with 48 (19.8%) cases diagnosed as severe sepsis, and 70.8% of them were males. The median age of severe sepsis patients was 2 (1-6 ) days. In 56.3% of the patients bacteria were isolated, and E. coli was the predominant microbe. PRISM score and mortality rate were higher in those with severe sepsis, while their Apgar score was lower than other cases. The overall hospital mortality of severe sepsis was 45.8%. Risk factors for hospital mortality included higher PRISM score, severe organ dysfunction, circulatory system dysfunction, and hematological or central nervous system dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that severe sepsis is a common, frequently fatal morbid condition in critical ill newborns in NICU, showing similar disease pattern with other investigations. Further multiple-center investigations are helpful to prevent, control and salvage critically ill children suffering from severe sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of NICU, the Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bao-li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chun-xiao
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Li-ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xiang-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Li-zhong
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shu
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology*