PREVENTION OF COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED INFECTIO NS IN THE PREMATURE-INFANT

Preterm infants are at high risk of severe community acquired infectio ns. In particular viral respiratory infections, mainly respiratory syn citial virus infections (RVS), are responsible for a high incidence of rehospitalizations of preterm infants during their 2 first years of l ife. Prevention relies upon 1/ the application of an immunization prog ram identical to the program applied to normal term infants, a cardior espiratory monitoring during 48-72 hours following immunization being recommended in those infants who carry a risk of recurrent apnea; 2/ g eneral measures with a demonstrated protective effect, ie, breast feed ing, elimination of smoking at home, and when possible limitation of c ontacts with infant and children communities. Immunoprophylaxis agains t RVS infectiosn has been shown to be effective in reducing the severi ty of RVS infections in preterm infants but is presently not available in European countries.