Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Moderate Preterm Infants

Abstract

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating morbidity usually seen in preterm infants, with extremely preterm neonates (EPT ≤28 weeks) considered at highest risk. Moderately preterm infants (MPT 28–34 weeks) constitute a large percentage of NICU admissions. In our retrospective data analysis of NEC in a single regional perinatal center, NEC was observed in 10% of extremely EPT and 7% of MPT, but only 0.7% of late-preterm/term admissions. There was an inverse relationship between postnatal age at onset of NEC and gestational age at birth. Among MPT infants with NEC, maternal hypertensive disorders (29%) and small for gestational age (SGA-15%) were more common than in EPT infants (11.6 and 4.6%, resp.). Congenital gastrointestinal anomalies were common among late preterm/term infants with NEC. SGA MPT infants born to mothers with hypertensive disorders are particularly at risk and should be closely monitored for signs of NEC. Identifying risk factors specific to each gestational age may help clinicians to tailor interventions to prevent NEC.

Time to occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis and its predictors among low birth weight neonates admitted at neonatal intensive care unit of felege hiwot compressive specialized hospital BahirDar, Ethiopia, 2021: A retrospective follow-up study

“…This was consistent with the findings of the United Kingdom study (7.5%) ( 16 ), and Polish (8.7%) ( 17 ). However, this finding was higher than the study conducted in multicenter Hospitals in China (2.4%) ( 13 ) and the United States (2.8%) ( 18 ). This could be because 61.2% of Ethiopian mothers think that pre-lacteal feeding is crucial for a child’s health and growth, the practice is as widespread there as it is in China and the United States ( 19 ); additionally, it may be also socio-economic, sample size, study area differences, and advanced neonatal and maternal care in China and the United States.…”

Clinical and epidemiological characterization of newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis

“…Another finding was the positive and significant correlation between disease stages and gestational age and birth weight. One study revealed that the incidence of NEC decreases with increasing gestational age 28 . Another study points out that NEC is more common in very low birth weight infants, which differs from the data found 29 .…”

Outcomes of Moderately Preterm Infants of Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Mothers

“…10 Other studies have used a variety of gestational age limits to define MPT, starting as low as 28 week gestation and up to 34 6/7 week infants. 11,[19][20][21] The lack of consensus definition of MPT limits our ability to make comparisons on a consistent maternal and infant population.…”