Table 1

Characteristics of Infants Treated for Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus


Period 1: 1999 (No vancomycin restriction) (n = 45)
Period 2: 2000–2001 (Vancomycin restriction) (n = 37)
Difference (95% CI)
p-value

Baseline characteristics, median (range)
Birth weight, grams
890 (550, 1750)
966 (628, 3417)
39 (-69, 148)
0.269
Gestational age, weeks
27 (24, 31)
27 (24, 41)
0.0 (-1.0, 1.0)
0.337
Age at onset of sepsis, days
13 (4, 74)
10 (5, 23)
-2 (-4, 1)
0.149
Characteristics at onset of sepsis, n (%)
Presence of a central venous line
18 (40.0)
21 (56.8)
16.8 (-4.8, 36.3)
0.183
Central venous line removal *
10/18 (55.6)
10/21 (47.6)
7.9 (-35.6, 21.7)
0.751
Receiving total parenteral nutrition
41 (91.1)
36 (97.3)
6.2 (-6.2, 18.2)
0.372
Prior antibiotics
43 (95.6)
33 (89.2)
-6.4 (-20.6, 5.9)
0.402
Mean time between sepsis and prior antibiotics, days (sd)
6.4 (4.4)
4.7 (3.4)
-1.7 (-3.5, 5.8)
0.053
Clinical signs of sepsis, n (%)
Lethargy
41(91.1)
25 (67.6)
-23.5 (-40.5, -6.1)
0.011
Increased frequency of apneic spells
35 (77.8)
23 (62.1)
-15.6 (-34.4, 4.1)
0.148
Temperature instability
23 (51.1)
17 (45.9)
-5.2 (-25.6, 15.9)
0.664
Need for increased ventilatory support
9/12 (75.0)
15/16 (93.7)
18.8 (-8.6, 47.4)
0.285
Need for intubation in infants not on any ventilatory support
20/33 (60.6)
14/21 (66.7)
6.1 (-19.8, 29.4)
0.775
Poor perfusion requiring fluid boluses or inotropic support
15 (33.3)
11 (29.7)
-3.6 (-22.7, 16.4)
0.814

Isolate resistant, n (%)

Cloxacillin
34 (75.5)
29 (78.4)
2.8 (-15.8, 20.4)
0.799
Gentamicin
30 (66.7)
26 (72.2)
3.6 (-16.4, 22.7)
0.635
Both cloxacillin and gentamicin
23 (51.1)
26 (72.2)
21.1 (-0.03, 39.6)
0.113

* Percentage based on infants with a central venous line

Lawrence et al. BMC Pediatrics 2005 5:49   doi:10.1186/1471-2431-5-49