title: Neonatal sepsis in a rapidly growing, tertiary neonatal intensive care unit: Trends over 18 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated changes in the admission patterns of neonatal intensive care units and the epidemiology of neonatal sepsis following the rapid expansion and improvements in neonatal intensive care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on the admission of neonates with culture-proven sepsis between 1996 and 2013 (period I, 1996-2005; period II, 2006-2013) were collected retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The admission of extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants increased between periods I and II (11.1 vs 28.7 infants per 1000 live births, P < 0.001). The survival rate of the ELBW infants improved (57.5 vs 80.1%, P < 0.001), and duration of hospital stay increased (median, 64 vs 80 days, P = 0.001). The incidence of sepsis among all infants and ELBW infants increased (all infants, 5.9 vs 12.7 cases per 1000 live births; ELBW infants, 189.5 vs 290.1 cases per 1000 live births). In ELBW infants, the incidence of sepsis caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CONS), significantly increased during period II (8.8 vs 25.4%, P = 0.039). On multivariate analysis, central vascular catheters and prolonged hospitalization were independently associated with increased sepsis rate, particularly CONS in ELBW infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inborn admission rate for ELBW infants has increased significantly and is accompanied by improved survival and longer hospital stay. The incidence of neonatal sepsis, particularly in ELBW infants, has also increased, and CONS has emerged as a major pathogen. Central vascular catheters and prolonged hospitalization could be independent risk factors for the increased sepsis rate, particularly sepsis due to CONS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ee-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hwa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hoan Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D000071074:Neonatal Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: coagulase-negative Staphylococcus; epidemiology; extremely low-birthweight infant; neonatal intensive care unit; sepsis