Persistent Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Bacteremia in Neonates: Clinical, Microbiological Characteristics and Changes within a Decade

oleh: Venetia Bellou, Despoina Gkentzi, Nikolaos Giormezis, Aggeliki Vervenioti, Iris Spiliopoulou, Gabriel Dimitriou

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-06-01

Deskripsi

Atypical outbreaks of persistent <i>coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS)</i> bacteremias, defined as three or more consecutive positive blood cultures with the same <i>CoNS</i> species, at least 48 h apart, have been reported in neonatal intensive-care units (NICUs). Our aim was to describe the profile of these cases in our NICU over a two-year period with the objective of assessing possible changes within a decade. Demographics, clinical and microbiological data were recorded for all <i>CoNS</i> bacteremias in our tertiary NICU during 2016–2017 and compared with the results of the same study in 2006–2007. Fifty-six cases of <i>CoNS</i> sepsis were recorded. Fourteen (25%) of them were persistent. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between cases with persistent vs. non-persistent bacteremia. <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> was the most common species. In logistic regression analysis, biofilm production (<i>β</i> = 2.464, <i>p</i> = 0.04) was the most significant determinant for the development of persistent <i>CoNS</i> bacteremia. Our isolates were less likely to produce biofilm and carry <i>ica</i> operon as compared to those of 2006–2007. The cases of persistent <i>CoNS</i> sepsis have decreased within a decade, which could be attributed to the implementation of intensive infection control practices. Biofilm production remains the most important risk factor.