title: Clinical presentation and treatment of transfusion-associated babesiosis in premature infants.
abstract: We review here 7 cases of neonatal transfusion-associated babesiosis at a NICU in the northeast United States. Transfusion from 2 infected units of blood resulted in the 7 cases described. The clinical presentation was highly variable in this cohort; the extremely low birth weight neonates were the most severely affected. Antibiotic therapy was effective in neonates with mild and asymptomatic infection; however, double-volume exchange blood transfusion with prolonged multidrug treatment was required for the 2 most severe cases. The risk of Babesia microti infection is not eliminated through current blood-bank practices. Neonatologists in endemic areas should have a high index of suspicion for babesiosis in premature infants exposed to blood transfusions.
authors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 982162 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-2162, USA. kasimonsen@unmc.edu
authors: Kari A
authors: KA
authors: Simonsen
authors: Joseph I
authors: JI
authors: Harwell
authors: Shabnam
authors: S
authors: Lainwala
mesh_terms: D041001:Babesia microti / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies