The association of kernicterus with bacterial infection in the newborn

A total population of 29,395 neonates cared for in the six-year period from 1971 to 1976 was reviewed for evidence of autopsy-proven kernicterus. A total of 327 neonates died and 232 were autopsied. The only cases of kernicterus occurred in four near-term infants with antemortem proven sepsis. All f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Pediatrics (Evanston) Vol. 65; no. 1; pp. 26 - 29
Main Authors:	Pearlman, M A, Gartner, L M, Lee, K, Eidelman, A I, Morecki, R, Horoupian, D S
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 01-01-1980
Subjects:	Bacterial Infections - complications Bilirubin - blood Humans Hyperbilirubinemia - prevention & control Infant, Newborn Infant, Newborn, Diseases - complications Kernicterus - blood Kernicterus - complications
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Summary:	A total population of 29,395 neonates cared for in the six-year period from 1971 to 1976 was reviewed for evidence of autopsy-proven kernicterus. A total of 327 neonates died and 232 were autopsied. The only cases of kernicterus occurred in four near-term infants with antemortem proven sepsis. All four of these infants weighed more than 2,200 gm and were delivered after gestations of either 36 or 37 weeks. These cases of kernicterus occurred during a period when more aggressive management of hyperbilirubinemia in low-birth-weight infants had apparently eliminated immaturity as a predisposing factor in the development of kernicterus, uncovering bacterial infection as the major remaining etiologic co-factor.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0031-4005 1098-4275
DOI:	10.1542/peds.65.1.26