Incidence of infection for preterm twins cared for in cobedding in the neonatal intensive-care unit.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the incidence of infection in a group of cobedded preterm twin infants and compare it to the incidence of infection in a cohort of preterm twin infants cared for in the same institution prior to the onset of cobedding.

DESIGN

Retrospective descriptive design.

SETTING

Tertiary, referral neonatal intensive-care unit in the Midwest.

PARTICIPANTS

Preterm twin infants between 23 and 35 weeks gestational age.

METHODS

Data from 1997 to 2001 (cobedding) compared to data from 1992 to 1996 (no cobedding).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Infection as evidenced by positive blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or urine culture or radiographic evidence of pneumonia or necrotizing enterocolitis.

RESULTS

Independent samples t test found the cobedded and non-cobedded infants to be homogenous in demographic data. A 2-way analysis of variance demonstrated no significant effects for cobedded infants on number of sepsis evaluations or number of positive blood cultures. There was a statistically significant difference for number of positive blood cultures at discharge reflecting the increased number of positive blood cultures in the non-cobedded infants. Finally, there were no statistically significant differences found between cobedded and non-cobedded for the presence of pneumonia or necrotizing enterocolitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Cobedding of preterm twins cared for in the intensive-care nursery was not associated with an increased incidence of infection. Prospective studies are needed on cobedding before a change in practice is implemented.