OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of Pentaglobin®
as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of sepsis in preterm newborns.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a prospective, observational, randomized study for 272
premature neonates and very low birth weight (VLBW) that were diagnosed with sepsis carried at
neonatal intensive care units. The patients randomized into control group who received standard
sepsis antibiotic treatments, and an intervention group who received Pentaglobin® 5 ml/kg daily for
3 consecutive days as an adjunct therapy to a standard sepsis antibiotic treatment.
RESULTS: Multiple organisms that isolated from culture specimens were Gram‑negative bacteria,
Gram‑positive, and candida (56.25%, 42.28%, and 1.47%, respectively). The disease duration was
distinctively longer in patients who were treated by the standard antibiotic protocol (mean ± standard
deviation [SD]: 30.76 ± 3.97, odds ratio [OR]: 30.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.051, 31.473)
comparing to the patients who received Pentaglobin adjuvant therapy (mean ± SD: 26.48 ± 5.55,
OR: 26.48, 95% CI: 25.489, 27.477) (P < 0.000). Patients treated by standard antibiotic protocol
were associated to a substantially increased risk of death (11.76%, hazard ratio 4.400, 95% CI:
1.432, 13.529, P = 0.009).
CONCLUSION: Neonatal sepsis is more common in premature and VLBW newborns, and
Pentaglobin® management of newborn nosocomial sepsis might be used in addition to other therapies