Title: Identifying immune correlates of infection in preterm infants
Funder: Action Medical Research

Abstract: Background_x000D_ Around 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK each year and sadly, more than 1,000 die as a result of being born too soon. Bacterial infections are especially dangerous for preterm babies and can result in death, or increase the risk of neurological disability in those who survive. However, confirming infection in preterm babies is problematic - tests we normally rely on to identify infections are difficult to interpret in the preterm baby. Because doctors must be highly cautious in this vulnerable group, some babies may receive antibiotics when they do not have an infection or be treated for longer than is necessary. This is not ideal since antibiotics themselves can contribute to other serious complications in newborn babies. In addition, the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance means that the prescribing of these medicines should be restricted when it is safe to do so. _x000D_ _x000D_ The research project_x000D_ The researchers have a collection of blood samples taken from around 150 preterm babies with parental consent. They have on average six samples from each baby taken at different time points. They plan to analyse these samples to see if they can identify any specific markers of bacterial infection in those babies with a confirmed infection. They will also investigate if there are any differences in the immune cells of babies who later developed a serious infection. The results of these studies may: 1) Give us a better understanding of how the immune system reacts to infection in preterm babies and identify relevant markers of clinical infection. This would enable babies to receive appropriate antibiotic treatment and allow doctors to monitor the success of treatment closely; 2) Identify differences in the immune system of babies, prior to the onset of infection, who then go on to develop severe infection. Ultimately, this could help doctors identify which babies are most at risk of developing a severe infection in the first few months of life. _x000D_ A better understanding of the preterm immune system is crucial to improving outcomes following preterm birth. Identifying babies with true infection will help to limit unnecessary antibiotic exposure. Being able to tell which preterm babies have the highest risk of getting a severe infection means that preventative, diagnostic and therapeutic measures could all be employed to improve the outcome for these vulnerable infants in the critical first few weeks of life. _x000D_

Lay abstract: Background_x000D_ Around 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK each year and sadly, more than 1,000 die as a result of being born too soon. Bacterial infections are especially dangerous for preterm babies and can result in death, or increase the risk of neurological disability in those who survive. However, confirming infection in preterm babies is problematic - tests we normally rely on to identify infections are difficult to interpret in the preterm baby. Because doctors must be highly cautious in this vulnerable group, some babies may receive antibiotics when they do not have an infection or be treated for longer than is necessary. This is not ideal since antibiotics themselves can contribute to other serious complications in newborn babies. In addition, the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance means that the prescribing of these medicines should be restricted when it is safe to do so. _x000D_ _x000D_ The research project_x000D_ The researchers have a collection of blood samples taken from around 150 preterm babies with parental consent. They have on average six samples from each baby taken at different time points. They plan to analyse these samples to see if they can identify any specific markers of bacterial infection in those babies with a confirmed infection. They will also investigate if there are any differences in the immune cells of babies who later developed a serious infection. The results of these studies may: 1) Give us a better understanding of how the immune system reacts to infection in preterm babies and identify relevant markers of clinical infection. This would enable babies to receive appropriate antibiotic treatment and allow doctors to monitor the success of treatment closely; 2) Identify differences in the immune system of babies, prior to the onset of infection, who then go on to develop severe infection. Ultimately, this could help doctors identify which babies are most at risk of developing a severe infection in the first few months of life. _x000D_ A better understanding of the preterm immune system is crucial to improving outcomes following preterm birth. Identifying babies with true infection will help to limit unnecessary antibiotic exposure. Being able to tell which preterm babies have the highest risk of getting a severe infection means that preventative, diagnostic and therapeutic measures could all be employed to improve the outcome for these vulnerable infants in the critical first few weeks of life. _x000D_

Research activity codes: 2.1 BIOLOGICAL AND ENDOGENOUS FACTORS
Health categories: REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND CHILDBIRTH;INFECTION