• Peter Olbrich, Antonio Pavón, Maria Luisa Rosso, Agueda Molinos, Beatriz de Felipe, Berta Sanchez, Juan Manuel Praena-Fernández, Francisco Jimenez, Ignacio Obando, and Olaf Neth.
• 1Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiency, Hospital Infantil Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Seville, Spain. 2Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Infantil Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Seville, Spain. 3Department of Paediatric Haematology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Seville, Spain. 4Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Seville, Spain. 5Statistics, Methodology and Research Evaluation Unit, Andalusian Public Foundation for Health Research Management in Seville, Seville, Spain.
• Pediatr Crit Care Me. 2013 Oct 1;14(8):796-800.

ObjectivesTo determine human beta-defensin-2 levels in term and preterm neonates at birth and to evaluate its impact on sepsis.DesignObservational study.SettingSingle tertiary care hospital.PatientsTerm neonates and preterm neonates were recruited and divided in groups according to important clinical events.InterventionsCord blood samples were drawn from all newborns immediately after birth. Human beta-defensin-2 levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology. All neonates were followed clinically during the first 30 days of life.Measurements And Main ResultsForty-two term and 31 preterm neonates were enrolled. Human beta-defensin-2 levels in term neonates were higher compared with preterm infants (median, 1,882 vs 918 pg/mL; p = 0.003) and correlated with gestational age and birth weight. Of 31 preterm neonates, seven suffered from late-onset sepsis, and this was associated with lower human beta-defensin-2 levels (median, 513 vs 1,411 pg/mL; p = 0.006).ConclusionPreterm neonates show lower human beta-defensin-2 levels in cord blood compared with term neonates. Low human beta-defensin-2 levels in preterm neonates might be associated with an increased risk of late-onset sepsis.

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