IVIG administration results in a 3% reduction in sepsis and a 4% reduction in one or more episodes of any serious infection but is not associated with reductions in other clinically important outcomes, including mortality. Prophylactic use of IVIG is not associated with any short-term serious side effects.
The decision to use prophylactic IVIG will depend on the costs and the values assigned to the clinical outcomes. There is no justification for conducting additional RCTs to test the efficacy of previously studied IVIG preparations in reducing nosocomial infections in preterm and/or LBW infants.
Intravenous immunoglobulin for prophylaxis of neonatal sepsis in premature infants.
The incidence of sepsis, mortality due to sepsis, total mortality, and minor infections was evaluated in a group of 46 premature newborn infants who were treated with intravenous immunoglobulins. They were compared with an untreated control group. No significant differences were observed between the two groups.