Premature babies account for more than 450,000 (or one in nine) births in the U.S. every year, CBS News reports. Despite being prone to complications, the survival rate of preterm infants is on the rise thanks in part to improved infection control, according to a study published in JAMA.
Researchers conducted their review of maternal and neonatal care, complications and mortality among extremely preterm infants — those born before 28 weeks' gestation — between 1993 and 2012. More than 34,600 infants were included in the study.
The research revealed:
1. Survival rates increased between 2009 and 2012 for infants at 23 weeks' gestation from 27 percent to 33 percent.
2. Although slight, infants at 24 weeks' gestation experienced a survival rate increase as well, from 63 percent to 65 percent.
3. Infants at 25 and 27 weeks' gestation saw smaller relative increases in survival rates, and there was no change for infants at 22, 26, and 28 weeks' gestation.
4. Infants in the range of 25 to 28 weeks' gestation also saw an annual increase of 2 percent in survival without major morbidity rates, with no change for infants at 22 to 24 weeks' gestation.
5. Rates of late-onset sepsis declined among infants of each gestational age between 2005 and 2012.
Lead researcher Barbara J. Stoll, MD, told CBS News that she is "cautiously optimistic" regarding the results of the study.
"The current improvement has to be tempered by the work that still needs to be done to increase the likelihood that all very low birth-weight, extremely pre-term infants leave the NICU and go home without having suffered any major complications," said Dr. Stoll.
According to the study, hospital infection control and pre-birth medication (like corticosteroids) both contributed to improvements.
More articles on neonatal care:
NICUs are admitting more normal birth weight and term babies: Is it a patient safety issue?
Physicians fail to give new mothers infant care recommendations, report finds
NICU hyperoxia alarms may cause alarm fatigue and negatively impact patient safety