Frequency of and risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis in infants born before 33 weeks of gestation

AIM: To investigate the frequency of and risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among infants of <33 wk of gestation. METHODS: Prospective follow-up of 140 inpatients. RESULTS: 26 (18.6%) subjects developed NEC stage I-III and 12 (8.6%) severe NEC (stage II-III). Breast milk fortifier and duration of morphine infusion emerged as the statistically significant factors associated with NEC stage I-III, but only the latter had a significant association with severe NEC. CONCLUSION: Future studies are needed to be established whether morphine is a causative factor in NEC.