Intravenous immunoglobulin for suspected or subsequently proven infection in neonates

Infants may acquire infections while in the womb or in the hospital after birth, especially if the require intensive care. Such infections may cause serious illness or death. Maternal transport of immunoglobulins (substances in the blood that can fight infections) to the fetus mainly occurs after 32 weeks gestation and infants do not begin to produce immunoglobulins until several months after birth. Theoretically, the adverse effects of infections could be reduced by the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin. There is currently insufficient evidence from the 10 studies conducted to fate to support the routine administration of intravenous immunoglobulins to prevent death in infants with suspected neonatal infection. A very large trial that has enrolled 3,493 infants is soon to be completed by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit in Oxford, England. The results of that trial should establish the usefulness of intravenous immunoglobulins for suspected infection in newborns.