Low-dosage prophylactic vancomycin in central-venous catheters for neonates

Neonatal infectious pathology remains one of the main causes of morbidity a nd mortality in this age group. The introduction of plasticized catheters f or the administration of medication, fluidotherapy and parenteral nutrition was a significant advance in treatment of patients at risk, but also led t o the appearance of infectious complications. Negative coagulase staphyloco ccus is the principal pathogen in most neonatal intensive care units. Recen t studies have examined the prophylactic use of vancomycin in preterm babie s receiving parenteral nutrition. We have evaluated the efficacy of this pr ocedure, applied via the central venous catheters employed for all neonates , within the intensive care unit over a period of one year. Prophylactic va ncomycin administered via the catheters significantly reduced the incidence of Gram-positive infections, despite the presence within this group of a g reater number of septic risk factors than in the control group. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.