OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for concurrent sepsis in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 273 neonates with NEC. The risk factors for concurrent sepsis were analyzed from the aspects of perinatal factors and treatment regimen before the diagnosis of NEC.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of concurrent sepsis in NEC was 32.2% (88/273). The neonates with stage III NEC had a significantly higher incidence rate of concurrent sepsis than those with stage II NEC (69.0% vs 15.9%; P<0.05). Of all neonates with sepsis, 62.5% experienced sepsis within 3 days after the diagnosis of NEC, and 37.5% experienced sepsis more than 3 days after the diagnosis. Compared with those without concurrent sepsis, the neonates with concurrent sepsis had significantly lower gestational age and birth weight (P<0.05). The neonates who had scleredema, had stage III NEC, needed gastrointestinal decompression after the diagnosis of NEC, and experienced a long time of gastrointestinal decompression tended to develop sepsis more easily (P<0.05). Scleredema (OR=9.75, 95%CI: 2.84-33.52, P<0.001), stage III NEC (OR=12.94, 95%CI : 6.82-24.55, P<0.001), and gastrointestinal decompression (OR=2.27, 95%CI: 1.14-4.5, P=0.02) were independent risk factors for concurrent sepsis in NEC.

CONCLUSIONSScleredema, stage III NEC, and gastrointestinal decompression are independent risk factors for concurrent sepsis in neonates with NEC.