Clinical presentation and treatment of transfusion-associated babesiosis in premature infants.

Abstract

We review here 7 cases of neonatal transfusion-associated babesiosis at a NICU in the northeast United States. Transfusion from 2 infected units of blood resulted in the 7 cases described. The clinical presentation was highly variable in this cohort; the extremely low birth weight neonates were the most severely affected. Antibiotic therapy was effective in neonates with mild and asymptomatic infection; however, double-volume exchange blood transfusion with prolonged multidrug treatment was required for the 2 most severe cases. The risk of Babesia microti infection is not eliminated through current blood-bank practices. Neonatologists in endemic areas should have a high index of suspicion for babesiosis in premature infants exposed to blood transfusions.

• Authors: Kari A Simonsen, Joseph I Harwell, Shabnam Lainwala
• Journal: Pediatrics (Pediatrics) Vol. 128 Issue 4 Pg. e1019-24 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1098-4275 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21890833 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Babesia microti (isolation & purification)
• Babesiosis (diagnosis, therapy, transmission)
• Erythrocyte Transfusion (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Infant, Premature, Diseases (diagnosis, parasitology, therapy)
• Retrospective Studies