To identify perinatal and postnatal risk factors associated with NEC in very preterm infants and to develop a predictive model for clinical use.
Approach:
Study Design: Retrospective case-control study including infants <32 weeks’ gestation and <1,500 g birth weight admitted to a level III NICU between 2018 and 2022.
Data Analysis: Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of NEC and to generate a nomogram.
Key Findings:
46 out of 354 eligible infants (13%) developed NEC.
NEC was associated with lower gestational age and birth weight, prolonged rupture of membranes, maternal and neonatal antibiotic exposure, umbilical arterial catheters, vasoactive drugs, feeding intolerance, anaemia, and platelet transfusion.
Early intravenous antibiotic administration within the first 24 h of life (OR: 1.91) and placental abruption (OR: 2.72) were independent risk factors for NEC.
The predictive model demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability (AUC = 0.73).
Interpretation:
The proposed nomogram may support early risk stratification and closer clinical surveillance using readily available clinical variables.
Limitations:
The study is retrospective and conducted at a single center, which may limit generalizability.
Further multicentre studies are required to validate the predictive tool.
Conclusion:
Early intravenous antibiotic administration and placental abruption were independently associated with NEC in very preterm infants.
by T. Pérez-Oliver, A. Pinilla-Gonzalez, M. Gormaz, J. Kuligowski, E. Serna, L. Torrejón-Rodríguez, I. Lara-Cantón, A. Cayuela-Hernández, M. Vento, A. Parra-Llorca, M. Cernada
More than 5,100 additional reports require further analysis as federal and state partners investigate several outbreaks and work to identify their sources.
