Persistent Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Bacteremia in Neonates: Clinical, Microbiological Characteristics and Changes within a Decade.

Atypical outbreaks of persistent bacteremias, defined as three or more consecutive positive blood cultures with the same species, at least 48 h apart, have been reported in neonatal intensive-care units (NICUs). Our aim was to describe the profile of these cases in our NICU over a two-year period with the objective of assessing possible changes within a decade. Demographics, clinical and microbiological data were recorded for all bacteremias in our tertiary NICU during 2016-2017 and compared with the results of the same study in 2006-2007. Fifty-six cases of sepsis were recorded. Fourteen (25%) of them were persistent. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between cases with persistent vs. non-persistent bacteremia. was the most common species. In logistic regression analysis, biofilm production ( = 2.464, = 0.04) was the most significant determinant for the development of persistent bacteremia. Our isolates were less likely to produce biofilm and carry operon as compared to those of 2006-2007. The cases of persistent sepsis have decreased within a decade, which could be attributed to the implementation of intensive infection control practices. Biofilm production remains the most important risk factor.