title: Infection-induced inflammation and cerebral injury in preterm infants.
abstract: Preterm birth and infectious diseases are the most common causes of neonatal and early childhood deaths worldwide. The rates of preterm birth have increased over recent decades and account for 11% of all births worldwide. Preterm infants are at significant risk of severe infection in early life and throughout childhood. Bacteraemia, inflammation, or both during the neonatal period in preterm infants is associated with adverse outcomes, including death, chronic lung disease, and neurodevelopmental impairment. Recent studies suggest that bacteraemia could trigger cerebral injury even without penetration of viable bacteria into the CNS. Here we review available evidence that supports the concept of a strong association between bacteraemia, inflammation, and cerebral injury in preterm infants, with an emphasis on the underlying biological mechanisms, clinical correlates, and translational opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neonatal Research and Education, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Neonatal Clinical Care Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia. Electronic address: tobias.strunk@health.wa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strunk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Neurology and Radiology, Washington University, St Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Terrie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inder
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Center, Department of Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Shangjie, Henan, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgner
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Center, Department of Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mallard
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*