OBJECTIVETo study the possibility of bacterial infections in the hospital among the premature and low birth weight newborns by scoring their clinical assessments and laboratory examinations.

METHODSFrom January 2002 to January 2003, 62 newborns with birth-weight less than 2,000 g were divided into two groups, infected group and control group, based on the current diagnostic standards for newborns. We scored the newborns according to the severity of their illnesses based on their clinical manifestations and laboratory examination, and compared the scores obtained before and after effective antibiotic treatment.

RESULTSIt was found that the scores were significantly different (P < 0.01) between the infected group and the control group before treatment; while after antibiotic treatment, the difference was no longer significant (P > 0.05). In the infected group, the scores obtained pre- and post-treatment were significantly different (P < 0.01). In the control group, in those with the scores >or= 11 before antibiotic treatment, the scores significantly decreased (P < 0.01) after-treatment; but in those with the scores < 11, the score did not decrease (P > 0.05). These results indicate that the current diagnostic criteria for newborns may not be sensitive enough for premature infants, low birth weight infants and very low birth weight infants.

CONCLUSIONScoring the low birth weight premature infants with their clinical manifestations has the advantages in judging the possibility of infection and monitoring the effectiveness of the anti-infection treatment.