Clustering of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, characterized by intestinal necrosis and pneumatosis intestinalis, frequently leads to perforation of the bowel wall, septicemia and death. Several observations have suggested that an infectious agent is involved in the pathogenesis of this disease: epidemics of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis,1 2 3 4 association of outbreaks with specific bacterial pathogens1 , 2 , 5 and prevention of the disease and reduction of complications by prophylactic oral antibiotics.6 , 7 Through the ongoing nosocomial-infection surveillance program in the Intermountain Newborn Intensive Care Center,8 we became aware of a marked increase in the frequency of cases beginning in 1972. In this report we present our experience with 74 cases . . .