Enterococcal sepsis in neonates: features by age at onset and occurrence of focal infection.

Fifty-six neonates with enterococcal septicemia in a single hospital from 1977 through 1986 were studied. The incidence was low and constant until 1983, when an increase, attributable to infections in infants older than 7 days of age (late-onset), was noted. These infants were more premature (mean gestational age 29.5 vs 36.9 weeks) and had lower birth weights (mean 1250 vs 2700 g) than those with early-onset enterococcal sepsis, and in most the infections were characterized by a nosocomial origin. Infants with early-onset infection had a mild illness with respiratory distress typical of other etiologic agents or diarrhea without focal infection. By contrast, late-onset enterococcal sepsis was heralded by severe apnea, bradycardia, circulatory collapse, and increased ventilatory requirements. Focal infections, including scalp abscess or catheter-related infection (23% each), meningitis or pneumonia (15% each), were common. Rapid clinical improvement and clearance of bacteremia resulted from therapy with an aminoglycoside and either ampicillin or vancomycin, but only if abscesses were drained and intravascular catheters were removed. Mortality rates for early-onset, late-onset, and necrotizing enterocolitis-associated infection were 6, 8, and 17%, respectively. Enterococcus is a frequent cause of late-onset septicemia in premature neonates, and empiric therapy should include appropriate antimicrobial agents.