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Multiple organ failure (MOF) is characterized by deterioration of more than one function from among respiratory, hepatic, renal, hematologic, and cardiac functions after sepsis, trauma, hypoxia, or other causes. This study included 88 newborn infants who had a history of delivery between 24-41 gestational weeks and were diagnosed with culture-positive sepsis at Baskent University Ankara and Adana hospitals from 2007 to 2011. Organ dysfunction, frequency of MOF, and the relation between MOF and causative microorganisms and mortality were investigated. Patients were divided into four groups according to the microorganism isolated in blood cultures. Twenty percent of newborns developed MOF after sepsis with a gram-positive bacterium except coagulase-negative staphylococcus. MOF frequencies were 36.8%, 100% and 20.8% for sepsis with gram-negative bacteria, fungus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus, respectively. Among these infection groups, statistically significant differences were observed between death rates, MOF development, cardiac, liver and hematologic failures, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Mortality rates were not statistically significantly different between patients with and without MOF. Although sepsis and associated MOF is an important cause of morbidity and mortality during the neonatal period, in this study, MOF was observed most frequently in fungal sepsis, but this was not associated with a high mortality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple births and related complications have increased with the widespread use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in recent years. The aim of this multicenter study of the Turkish Neonatal Society was to evaluate the effects of ART on neonatal morbidity and mortality in Turkey. Between February-December 2006, data from 18 different centers were prospectively collected and analyzed. Of the 6356 newborns recruited in this study, 793 infants (12.5%) were conceived with ART. Eighty-seven percent of the study population was singleton, 10.9% was twin and 1.4% was triplet. Sixty-two percent of the multiples were conceived with ART. Prematurity, multiple births and very low birth weight were more frequent in the ART group. The frequencies of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions and surfactant and mechanical ventilation along with morbidities such as intraventricular hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus, sepsis, and mortality were higher in ART infants. ART-induced pregnancies carry higher risks of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Couples considering ART should be informed about the possible maternal and neonatal risks of ART and multiple gestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]