Infections in hypothermic infants younger than 3 months old
R. Dagan and R. Gorodischer
Hypothermia in infants is associated with considerable morbidity and
mortality. Infection is thought to occur frequently and to carry a poor
prognosis in infants with hypothermia. The medical records of 51 infants
less than 3 months of age hospitalized from 1976 through 1981 with rectal
temperatures of 34 degrees C or less were reviewed. Infections were
diagnosed in 27 of the 51 infants. Infections were associated significantly
with the presence of bradycardia, anemia, abnormal leukocyte counts,
abnormal serum glucose levels, and uremia, especially if two or more of
these variables were present. Morbidity and mortality were higher among
infected than among noninfected infants. No rapid reliable indicators for
the presence or absence of infection in an individual infant with
hypothermia were found despite the differences noted between the two
groups. Until new techniques for the detection of bacterial infections
became available, we suggest that antibiotics be given to all infants
younger than 3 months of age with hypothermia on admission to the hospital.
