Neonatal sepsis and long term outcome

Neonatal sepsis is defined as a clinical syndrome of bacteremia with systemic signs and symptoms of infection in the first 4 weeks of life. It is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Role of infection as an independent risk factor for adverse outcome cannot be easily determined due to associated co-morbid conditions. Sequelae resulting from neonatal sepsis have not been well studied. Maternal infection can result in cerebral palsy by causing preterm birth, overwhelming sepsis in the fetus or newborn or placental insufficiency and birth asphyxia. Periventricular leukomalacia is associated with prolonged rupture of the fetal membranes and chorioamnionitis. Intrauterine infection produces proinflammatory cytokines which disrupt oligodendrocyte development in the preterm fetal brain. Neonatal infections could result in brain damage directly by causing meningitis or as a result of toxin and cytokine mediated systemic inflammatory response. Sepsis is known to be an important cause of retinopathy of prematurity and hearing impairment.