Infecciones por gérmenes atípicos en el recién nacido hospitalizado en un centro de tercer nivel de atención. Un problema creciente

Introduction

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates a chlamydial infection prevalence of 5% in adolescents. Colonisation by Mycoplasma is estimated to be between 5% and 75%, and by Ureaplasma from 35% to 90%.

The objective was to describe the frequency of atypical infections in newborns admitted to a tertiary hospital, as well as risk factors and clinical manifestations.

Material and methods

A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted between January and December 2015. All newborns with a positive culture or PCR for an atypical germ during hospital stay were included.

Results

A total of 75 (19%) positive cultures/PCR were observed out of a total of 388 samples. Mean maternal age was 28.7, and 25% presented with PROM (premature rupture of membranes) > 18 h, with chorioamnionitis in 9.3% of cases. The mean birth weight was 1478 g and the mean gestational age was 31 weeks. Mechanical ventilation was required in 56% of patients. Mean hospital stay was 60 days, and eosinophilia was present in 60% of cases. Conjunctivitis and pneumonia were the recognised pathologies caused by atypical microbes. There were 18 cases of conjunctivitis, all of them caused by chlamydia trachomatis (23%). Sixty-four (85.3%) cases of pneumonia were diagnosed, of which 75% were caused by chlamydia, 22% by Ureaplasma, and Mycoplasma in 3% of cases. Seven patients presented with pneumonia and conjunctivitis.

Conclusion

Of the study population, 23% presented with conjunctivitis and 85% had pneumonia. Chlamydia trachomatis was the most frequently isolated microbe (75%). Eosinophilia was associated in 60% of cases.