Risk factors for early-onset neonatal sepsis in Brazilian public hospital short-title: early-onset neonatal sepsis - Critical Care Science (CCS)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The determination of the risk factors to early-onset neonatal sepsis in our country is essential to prevent and reduce the mortality associated with this syndrome. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the frequency and associated risk factors to early-onset neonatal sepsis in public hospital in Southern Brazil. METHODS: Observational, case-control study. Were included neonates with diagnostic of early-onset neonatal sepsis and as controls, neonates without neonatal infection. Were included 50 cases and 3 controls for each case resulting in a total sample of 200 patients. Associations were considered significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: The sepsis frequency was 50.3 per 1000 born-alive. Risk factors associated to the development of neonatal sepsis were prematurity (OR 9.33; p < 0.001), low birth weight (OR 11.74; p < 0.001), maternal infection (OR 2.28; p = 0.009), mother with history of previous infant with neonatal sepsis (OR 6.43; p = 0.035) and rupture of the membranes more than 18 hours before delivery (OR 9.33; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal sepsis was very frequent in the study. Prematurity, low birth weight, maternal infection and mother’s having had a previous infant with neonatal sepsis are risk factors for early-onset neonatal sepsis.