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

A retrospective evaluation of the clinical and laboratory impact of coagulase-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. Clinical manifestations and the results of laboratory tests 7 d before and after the positive blood cultures, and on the first day of sepsis, were recorded and compared. During CONS bacteremia, the infants demonstrated apnoea and bradycardia (88%) and a need for oxygen (59%) and ventilatory support (69%). Significant laboratory findings were leukopenia below 5000 cells/mm³ (12%), leukocytosis above 30000 cells/mm³ (39%), and thrombocytopenia below 150000/mm³ (25%). These clinical and laboratory manifestations differed significantly during the bacteremia infection compared with the week before and after. Conclusion: CONS bacteremia is a clinically significant infection in preterm infants, Causing episodes of apnoea and bradycardia, and a need for ventilatory support.