ABSTRACT
Objectives: Since studies demonstrate that neonates born to mothers
having been cared for premature labor will suffer from congenital neonatal
sepsis, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and main risk factors of neonatal
infection among mothers having experienced a prior premature labor. Methods:
This was a cross sectional study carried out from January 1st throughout 31st December,
2013 at the university clinics of Kinshasa. It concerned all delivered women at
term having been cared for premature labor prior to giving birth a live
newborn. Maternal variables of interest were: parity, gestation, age,
intrapartum fever, malaria, urogenital infection during the last 2 weeks before
delivery (UGI), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), cervical cerclage, meconium-stained
amniotic fluid (MSAF) and the way of delivery. For neonates attention was paid
on gestational age, birth weight, admission at neonatal intensive care unit
(ANICU) and infection as stated within three days after birth. T-test and
Chi-square were used where appropriate. Logistic analysis was used to determine
the risk for maternal variables to induce neonatal infection (OR and CI), the
significance stated at p < 0.05.
Results: Fifty two mother-infant couples were recruited. Of these 19 neonates
were infected (prevalence of 36.5%). Mean age, gestational age and birth weight
were 30.19 ± 5.32 years, 37.2 ± 2 weeks and 2638 ± 588 g, respectively.
Infected neonates had their gestational age and birth weight significantly
lower whilst proportion of ANICU higher than that on non infected. Prematurity,
PROM, UGI, prior cerclage and MSAF were significantly more frequent in couples
with neonatal infection. Prematurity, birth weight <2500 g and UGI were
found to enhance the risk by 3 to 4 times. Conclusion: The prevalence of
neonatal infection was very high. Prematurity, birth weight <2500 g and maternal
UGI were found to enhance the risk by 3 to 4 times.