ANTIBIOTIC-ASSOCIATED BLOOD CHANGES IN NEWBORNS

Objective. The objective of the study was to determine the chances of a decrease in CBC cells when using antibiotics in newborns. Materials and methods. A total of 46 newborn infants who were hospitalized with the main diagnosis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were examined. By gestational age, they belonged to the late-preterm and term groups. The newborns were divided into 2 subgroups. Group 1 – main group: 25 children who received antibiotics; group 2 – control group: 21 children who did not receive antibiotics. Group 1 was divided into 2 subgroups: Group 1a, 16 newborns who received 1 antibiotic and Group 1b, 9 newborns who received 2 antibiotics. Antibiotics were administered at age-related doses, intravenously, including semi-synthetic penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, carbapenems, glycopeptides. The features of the analysis of blood (CBC) were studied. Results. It was noted that in terms of general characteristics, the newborns of the main and control groups were comparable. When comparing the mean values of blood counts, a significant decrease in erythrocytes, leukocytes and erythrocytes was revealed in the group of newborns who received antibiotics in comparison with the control group. The absolute number of neutrophils was significantly lower in the group of newborns who received 2 antibiotics vs. the control group. The odds ratio calculation showed an increased risk of a decrease in cell levels with antibiotic therapy prescribed. Leukocytes were found to have the greatest chances of decreasing from the normative level ­– by 5.34 times, as well as erythrocytes – by 3.56 times. The absolute number of neutrophils decreased with the greatest chances when 2 antibiotics were administered – by 22 times. Conclusions. In general, the antibiotic therapy leads to a decrease in the number of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets. This was most noted for leukocytes and erythrocytes. The absolute neutrophil count decreased most significantly with 2 antibiotics used.