Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Sepsis and Extravasation in Iraqi Neonates: Case-Series Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Extravasation and sepsis are two of the many side effects linked to the use of intravascular devices during parenteral nutrition (PN). Objective: To assess the incidence of sepsis and extravasation in Iraqi neonates receiving PN in the critical care unit. Methods: From January 27, 2022, to January 15, 2023, a case-series prospective study was carried out in two tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Children Welfare Hospital and Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. The study reports the rate of sepsis and extravasations and correlates their occurrence to other neonatal features. Results: Of the 94 newborns examined, 24 patients (25.5%) experienced 35 instances of stage IV extravasation, and 34.04% of them experienced 40 episodes of sepsis in total. They have a strong and significant correlation with the newborns' body weight, treatment duration, gestational age, and postnatal age. Conclusions: The administration of PN to neonates in Iraq has been linked to severe side effects such as sepsis and extravasation.