1ST EXPERIENCES WITH MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIE S IN THE THERAPY OF LIFE-THREATENING NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS IN THE NEWBORN

Despite the use of modem broad spectrum antibiotics nosocomial infecti ons are an unsolved problem, especially in the field of neonatal inten sive care (preterm babies and newborns). In patients with septic shock human monoclonal antibodies in combination with appropriate antibioti cs have proven effective and compatible for children older than one ye ar. So far, there have been no reports in the literature on the applic ation of such kind of atiendotoxin immunotherapy for pre-term babies a nd newborns. We describe the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies in two newborns. Already 12 respectively 16 hours after application of t he human monoclonal IgM antibodies (Centoxin (R)) and appropriate anti biotics, the clinical condition of our patients stabilized. Consecutiv ely further clinical symptoms improved rapidly.