Intravenous immunoglobulin for prevention of sepsis in preterm and low birth weight infants

Abstract

The effect of an intravenous polyvalent im-munoglobulin preparation given prophylacti-cally to prevent neonatal sepsis was tested in preterm and low birth weight infants. Infants matched for gestational age, sex and birth weight (±250 g) were randomly allocated into 3 groups of 50 each, one group (Group C) being used as control. Group A received Intraglobulin® (Biotest Pharma, West Germany), 120 mg/kg intrave-nously, within 2 to 4 hours of delivery; Group B received the same on days 1 and 8. The control group received no immunoglobulin. The frequency of infection and serum immunoglobulin concentrations were determined in each group.Infection rate in the control group was 16% (8 of 50) while in each of the treated groups it was 4% (2 of 50) (P < 0.005). The immunoglob-ulin concentrations achieved in the treated group were significantly higher than the control group. No adverse effect of the therapy was noted during the study and at a 6-month follow-up. It is suggested that in nurseries where the infection rate is high, prophylactic intravenous polyvalent immunoglobulin therapy for the preterm and low birth weight infants may provide protection from infection. © 1986 by Williams & Wilkins Co.