Association of Maternal Age with Risk of Neonatal Sepsis: A Mono-Centric Retrospective Study in Lebanon
Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a challenging diagnosis due to the nonspecific signs and the lack of diagnostic tool. This leads to an empiric management with antibiotics that can be harmful. Objective: The aim of the study is to identify the correlation between maternal age and mortality rate from neonatal sepsis and to study maternal age, as a potential risk factor. Materials and Methods: A mono-centric, retrospective study, from 2005 through 2018 has included 475 infants admitted to NICU and treated for neonatal sepsis. Data collection concerned maternal age, infant hemodynamics, laboratory findings and cultures. Results: The median maternal age found is 26, mode is 27 and the mean is 27.22±6.492. E. Coli is the most common germ; confirmed sepsis with culture is equally distributed between blood and urine. Mortality rate is 2.9%. CRP was the most prevalent marker. Most of treated neonates had none of the inflammatory markers positive on NICU admission. Conclusion: No correlation between maternal age and mortality rate. A single diagnostic test is still needed, to diagnose and treat early and to emphasize antibiotic stewardship.