A Clinical Study of Sepsis with Thrombocytopenia in Premature Infants

Purpose:This study was performed to characterize sepsis with thrombocytopenia in premature infants to determine if thrombocytopenia is a prognostic factor in sepsis in premature infants. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of sepsis in premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit(N=41) at the Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital from January 1999 to December 2002. The incidence, risk factors, symptoms, hematologic and bacteriologic findings were analyzed during episodes of sepsis. Results:Of the 41 cases, 29(72%) were associated with thrombocytopenia. The ratio of male to female was 1.2:1. The vast majority(98%) were late-onset sepsis. The risk factors of the thrombocytopenic group were low birth weight and low gestational age. Major symptoms were poor activity (72%), apnea/tachypnea(52%), but were not significantly different between two groups. In the thrombocytopenic group(N=29), low total WBC count and high CRP level were discovered(P=0.03, P