Clinical and laboratory impact of coagulase-negative staphylococci bacteremia in preterm infants

A retrospective evaluation of the clinical and laboratory impact of coagula se-negative staphylococci (CONS) bacteremia in preterm infants was carried out. The study population included all preterm infants (n = 31) in whom two or more blood cultures were positive for CONS within a period of 4 d, with negative blood cultures 1 wk before and 1 wk after the CONS bacteremia. Cl inical manifestations and the results of laboratory tests 7 d before and af ter the positive blood cultures, and on the first day of sepsis, were recor ded and compared. During CONS bacteremia, the infants demonstrated apnoea a nd bradycardia (88%) and a need for oxygen (59%) and ventilatory support (6 9%). Significant laboratory findings were leukopenia below 5000 cells/mm(3) (12%), leukocytosis above 30000 cells/mm(3) (39%), and thrombocytopenia be low 150000/mm(3) (25%). These clinical and laboratory manifestations differ ed significantly during the bacteremia infection compared with the week bef ore and after. Conclusion: CONS bacteremia is a clinically significant infection in preter m infants, causing episodes of apnoea and bradycardia, and a need for venti latory support.