LAUSR

Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of viral infections in infants with suspected late‐onset bacterial sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods In a prospective study, infants with suspected late‐onset bacterial sepsis underwent viral testing alongside routine blood culture sampling. Using a multiplex reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, nasopharyngeal aspirates were analyzed for adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus A and B, H1N1 virus, parainfluenza virus 1 to 4, metapneumovirus, coronavirus, and picornavirus. Stools were examined for adenovirus, rotavirus, norovirus, and enterovirus. Results Between August 2010 and March 2014, data of 88 infants with 137 episodes of suspected late‐onset bacterial sepsis were analyzed. Six infants were diagnosed with a respiratory viral infection (2 × RSV, 4 × picornavirus). Blood culture‐proven bacterial sepsis was detected in 15 infants. Neither viral‐bacterial coinfections nor polymerase chain reaction positive stool samples were found. Conclusion Respiratory viruses can be detected in a considerable number of neonates with suspected late‐onset bacterial sepsis. In contrast, gastrointestinal viral or enterovirus infections appear uncommon in such cases.