Prophylactic antibiotics to reduce morbidity and mortality in neonates with umbilical artery catheters.

BACKGROUND

Umbilical artery catheters are often used in unwell neonates. Infection related to the use of these catheters may cause significant morbidity and mortality. The use of prophylactic antibiotics has been advocated for all newborns with umbilical artery catheters in order to reduce the risk of colonisation and acquired infection. Countering this is the possibility that harm may outweigh benefit.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective was to assess whether prophylactic antibiotics, in neonates with umbilical artery catheters, reduce mortality and morbidity. In separate comparisons, we planned to review two different policies regarding the prophylactic use of antibiotics in neonates with umbilical artery catheters: 1) among neonates with umbilical artery catheters, a policy of prophylactic antibiotics for the duration of catheterisation (or other fixed duration of antibiotic treatment) versus placebo or no treatment; 2) among neonates with umbilical artery catheters who had been started on antibiotics at the time of catheterisation but whose initial cultures to rule out sepsis are negative, a policy of continuing versus discontinuing prophylactic antibiotics.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched MEDLINE (January 1966 to February 2004), CINAHL (1982 to February 2004), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2004), the Cochrane Neonatal Group Specialised Register and reference lists of articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials of adequate quality in which newborn infants with umbilical artery catheters are randomised to receive prophylactic antibiotics versus placebo or no treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality.

MAIN RESULTS

No study met the criteria for inclusion in this review.

REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence from randomised trials to support or refute the use of prophylactic antibiotics when umbilical artery catheters are inserted in newborn infants, or to support or refute continuing antibiotics once initial cultures rule out infection in newborn infants with umbilical artery catheters.