RISK-FACTORS FOR ENTEROBACTER SEPTICEMIA IN A NEONATAL UNIT - CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Thirty cases of Enterobacter aerogenes or Enterobacter cloacae septice mia diagnosed over a 32-month period in a tertiary care neonatal unit were enrolled in a case-control study. Each case patient was matched w ith two controls (patients occupying the cots nearest the case patient when the latter developed septicemia). Of the 32 perinatal characteri stics evaluated, 11 were identified by univariate analysis to be signi ficantly associated with the infection. These included parents being r esidents of the Vietnamese refugee camps, respiratory distress syndrom e, necrotizing enterocolitis, umbilical arterial catheterization, umbi lical Venous catheterization, bladder catheterization, mechanical vent ilation, antibiotic treatment, peripheral venous catheterization, naso gastric intubation, and parenteral nutrition. Multivariate analysis, h owever, showed that preceding bladder catheterization and ongoing pare nteral nutrition were the only independent risk factors for enterobact er septicemia. Strict aseptic technique in the preparation of parenter al nutrition fluid and avoidance of bladder catheterization are measur es that may reduce the risk of enterobacter sepsis for newborns.