Late‐onset neonatal sepsis was not associated with impaired neurodevelopmental outcome: Results from the EPICE/SHIPS‐PT cohort

Aim To assess the impact of late‐onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) on the cognitive and motor development of five‐year‐old children who were born very preterm (VPT). Methods This study included 327 VPT children from the Portuguese EPICE/SHIPS cohort who attended the neurodevelopment assessment. Neuropsychological tests such as WPPSI‐R, MABC‐2 and NEPSY‐II (language domain) were used to assess the children's cognitive and motor development. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the socio‐demographic, clinical and neurodevelopment outcomes of VPT children with and without LONS. Regression analysis adjusted for confounding variables was performed when applicable. Results Underperformance in intelligence quotient and language development was similar regardless of a neonatal diagnosis of LONS. In contrast, VPT children with LONS had a higher risk of movement difficulties than those without LONS (p = 0.02). However, the association was lost after adjusting for confounders (β = −0.25; p > 0.05). Conclusion LONS per se was not associated with the risk for poor long‐term cognitive or motor outcomes in VPT children. Social‐demographic and clinical characteristics assessed during the neonatal period and at the time of neurodevelopment assessment were similar between groups suggesting that social‐related factors such as parents' educational level could have mitigated the LONS impact.