title: Transfusion-associated necrotizing enterocolitis: translating knowledge into nursing practice.
abstract: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of prolonged hospitalizations for premature infants in the United States. In a recent large retrospective study, a significant proportion of NEC cases were shown to occur within 48 hours of packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion, especially in growing preterm neonates of older postnatal age. A small body of evidence consistently demonstrates that 25-35 percent of NEC cases are temporally associated with PRBC transfusion and that cases of NEC associated with transfusion are generally more severe with a higher rate of surgical intervention and mortality. Awareness of this association is vital for potential prevention and early recognition of NEC. The neonatal nurse has a primary role in care strategies that may affect NEC. This review of literature was compiled to educate neonatal nurses about the existence of transfusion-associated necrotizing enterocolitis and guide the translation of knowledge into nursing practice at the bedside.
authors.affiliation: Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA. ANLuton@texaschildrens.org
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luton
mesh_terms: D042241:Early Diagnosis; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical