• Hakan Ongun and Meltem Demir.
• Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University Antalya Medical Park Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2020 Jun 1; 30 (6): 611-616.

ObjectiveTo assess the risk on late-onset sepsis attributed mortality in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.    Study Design: Observational study.Place And Duration Of StudyLevel-III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, İstinye University, Antalya Medical Park Hospital, Turkey, between January 2014 and December 2018.MethodologyPerinatal characteristics and clinical features of 198 septic preterm neonates were evaluated to predict sepsis-attributed mortality. ROC analysis was employed to drive optimal-cutoffs for laboratory parameters and logistic regression to calculate mortality risk factors using SPSS version-22 and MedCalc software.ResultsMean gestational age was 28.91 ±2.67 weeks. Umbilical catheterisation was the principal risk factor for culture-positive sepsis (OR 2.860, 95%CI: 1.232-6.639). Outborn infants were more likely to deliver surfactant and longer intubation (p=0.013, and p=0.005, respectively), manifested frequent BPD (p=0.014), and at greater risk of proven sepsis and mortality (OR: 1.796, 95%CI: 1.011-3.191; OR: 1.950, 95%CI: 1.002-3.794). Low Apgar scores necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and prolonged intubation were independent risk factors for mortality (OR: 13.840, 95%CI: 6.384-30.005; OR: 5.410, 95%CI: 2.113-13.849; OR: 10.037, 95%CI: 4.700-21.434). An increase in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)-ratio >6.08-fold afforded good sensitivity and specificity (AUC: 0.914; sensitivity: 89.36%, specificity: 86.09%). Logistic regression of various combinations has shown a >6.08-fold change in hsCRP-ratio over 24-hours and platelet counts <88x109/L optimally predicted mortality (OR: 27.983, 95%CI: 9.704-80.697).ConclusionLow Apgar scores, NEC and prolonged intubation are independent risk factors for mortality of VLBW infants. Birth in level III-IV NICUs featuring special neonatal care, avoidance of prolonged intubation, and timely prediction of fatal sepsis using hsCRP ratio and platelets could prevent sepsis-related mortality. Key Words: Sepsis, Very low birth weight, Infant formality, Apgar score.

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