Physiological and electrophysiological evaluation of the hearing system in low birth weight neonates treated with cholestin: a cohort study

Abstract

Background Infections in neonates are mainly caused by sepsis and are the most important complications of low birth weight. In the treatment of these infections, it is common to use broad-spectrum antibiotics such as cholestin. Cholestin can cause changes in the latency of brainstem-evoked response waves. The current cohort study tried to investigate the probability of changes caused by cholestin in LBW neonates and benefiting from two common tests to identify the hearing system in neonates after treatment by cholestin and compared them with a control group. Methods The study was an exposure-based cohort, during which hearing damage caused by receiving cholestin was evaluated in 104 low birth weight neonates, in two groups (52 exposure and 52 no-exposure to cholestin). OAE and ABR tests were performed at the age of 3 months to identify complications in two groups and their results were compared. Results The absolute latency of waves I, III, and V in the brainstem evoked response test with an intensity of 80 dB Hl showed a significant difference in the exposure group with the control group. The interpeak latency of the waves as well as the effect of the drug on the gender of the infants did not show significant differences with the control group. Conclusion Cholestin did not affect the axonal or synaptic transmission time of the auditory nerve to the brainstem. It is possible that the simultaneous presence of risk factors, such as the use of cholestin, low birth weight, noises in the intensive care unit, and other unknown factors, can be effective in the change of the absolute latency of waves.