NEONATAL NOSOCOMIAL RESPIRATORY-INFECTION WITH CORONAVIRUS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the incidence of vir al respiratory infection in hospitalized premature newborn infants and to assess the role of coronaviruses. All hospitalized premature infan ts with a gestational age less than or equal to 32 weeks were included . Tracheal or nasopharyngal specimens were studied by immunofluorescen ce for coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenoviruses, influ enza and parainfluenza viruses. Forty premature infants were included; 13 samples were positive in 10 newborns (coronaviruses n = 10; influe nza 1 n = 2; adenovirus n = 1). None was positive at admission. All pr emature infants infected with coronaviruses had symptoms of bradycardi a, apnea, hypoxemia, fever or abdominal distension. Chest X-ray reveal ed diffuse infiltrates in two cases. However, no significant differenc e was observed between infected and non-infected premature infants for gestational age, birth weight, duration of ventilation, age at discha rge, incidence of apnea or bradycardia. Nosocomial respiratory tract i nfection with coronaviruses appears to be frequent. The clinical conse quences should be evaluated in a larger population.