OBJECTIVES:Vancomycin use for neonatal coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) sepsis is based on a high CoNS carriage rate of mecA, encoding penicillin-binding protein (PBP)-2a, with low affinity for, and associated with resistance to, β-lactam antibiotics. The relationship between mecA gene carriage, phenotypic expression of the gene by PBP-2a production and in vitro resistance to the β-lactam antibiotics oxacillin, cefazolin and amoxicillin/clavulanate was determined for 85 CoNS blood isolates randomly obtained from our collection of isolates from neonates with CoNS sepsis.METHODS:The relationship between mecA gene carriage, phenotypic expression of the gene by PBP-2a production and in vitro resistance to the β-lactam antibiotics oxacillin, cefazolin and amoxicillin/clavulanate was determined for randomly obtained CoNS blood isolates from our collection of isolates from neonates with CoNS sepsis. The mecA gene was detected using multiplex PCR, and PBP-2a expression was determined using a latex agglutination (LA) test (Oxoid). β-Lactam susceptibility was determined using the Phoenix automated system and, in addition, by Etest with interpretation of MIC values according to the reference MIC breakpoints adopted from the CLSI guidelines M100-S20, Infobase™.RESULTS:Among 85 CoNS blood isolates, 73 (86%) were mecA positive and 12 (14%) were mecA negative. None of the mecA-negative isolates expressed PBP-2a and all were β-lactam susceptible. All mecA-positive CoNS isolates were oxacillin resistant, although most oxacillin MICs were not very high, ranging from 2 to 8 mg/L for the majority of isolates. Only 8/73 (11%) mecA-positive CoNS isolates had oxacillin MICs ≥32 mg/L (range 32 to >256 mg/L). mecA-positive CoNS blood isolates, although fully resistant to oxacillin, were almost universally susceptible to cefazolin and amoxicillin/clavulanate, which was associated with a low expression rate of PBP-2a.CONCLUSIONS:β-Lactam antibiotics are useful for the treatment of neonatal CoNS sepsis, reserving vancomycin for selected cases.

Background: The typical empiric therapy for coagulase-negative staphylococcal (CONS) sepsis includes vancomycin. In our neonatal intensive care unit, we have consistently avoided the use of vancomycin to treat CONS sepsis, except for specific cases, and have used instead cefazolin as empiric agent. Objectives: The clinical outcome of infants with CONS sepsis was evaluated in relation to the susceptibility of CONS blood isolates to cefazolin over a period of 7 years. Methods: Clinical characteristics, symptoms of sepsis and antibiotic use were studied retrospectively. Susceptibility of CONS blood isolates to cefazolin was determined by E-test. Results: Of 163 infants with proven CONS sepsis, 121/140 (86%) infants with a cefazolin-susceptible (minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) ≤8 mg/l) and 21/23 (91%) with a cefazolin-resistant (MIC ≧32 mg/l) blood isolate were treated with cefazolin. 21 (13%) infants were switched to vancomycin, in only 3 of them CONS had become resistant to cefazolin. The majority (81%) of the infants with a good response to cefazolin had the indwelling central venous catheter removed, in contrast to only 22% of the infants with cefazolin treatment failure. Median cefazolin MIC values were 0.75–2 mg/l during the study period. Conclusions: The great majority of infants with CONS sepsis was successfully treated with cefazolin. The use of vancomycin could be restricted to specific cases. Despite the consistent use of cefazolin in neonatal CONS sepsis over an extended period of time, cefazolin MIC values remained low and in the susceptible range. Removal of the central venous catheter in infants with clinical symptoms of sepsis is an important therapeutic measure.

Nosocomial infections are serious complications among preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures to prevent these infections. This study, performed in a tertiary level NICU, highlights the importance of a multimodal intervention program for adherence to hand hygiene. The compliance with hand hygiene among health care workers of the NICU increased significantly from 23% in the baseline assessment to 50% in the second assessment and the incidence of sepsis decreased from 13.4% to 11.3% after implementation of an intervention program.

Background: The incidence of coagulase-negative staphylococcal (CoNS) sepsis is high in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and treatment significantly adds to the antibiotic pressure, increasing the threat of resistance. Because infants recover within 24–48 h, blood cultures are negative within 48 h and CRP normalizes within 72 h, we reduced anti-CoNS treatment from 7 to 3 days in infants with uncomplicated CoNS sepsis. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of short (3 days) treatment duration for CoNS sepsis. Methods: All infants with CoNS sepsis from January 2006 to September 2010 were evaluated. Before 2008 the duration of anti-CoNS treatment was 7 days, but in 2008 it was reduced to 3 days, provided that infants recovered within 48 h, CRP value decreased, thrombocytes were normal and central venous catheters were either not present or removed. Clinical results of treatment for 3 days were compared with 7 days of treatment. Results: There were 142 infants with CoNS sepsis who were eligible for 3 days of antimicrobial treatment duration, 62 (44%) from the period 2006–2008 were treated over 7 days (Group 1) and 80 (56%) from the period 2008–2010 were treated over 3 days (Group 2). Clinical characteristics were not different between the groups. All infants recovered within 48 h and CoNS sepsis did not relapse. Conclusions: Antibiotic treatment for CoNS sepsis may be shortened to 3 days when clinical improvement is rapid and central lines are not present. Prospective randomized studies are needed to confirm the results of this single-center study. Future studies may reveal the effects on the development of antimicrobial resistance.

OBJECTIVES:Indwelling central venous catheters are the most important risk factors for the development of sepsis attributable to coagulase-negative staphylococci among preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units. In addition, removal of a central venous catheter also may cause coagulase-negative staphylococci sepsis, which may be prevented by the short-term administration of an anti-staphylococcal agent during the procedure of removal. The administration of a specific anti-staphylococcal agent (cefazolin) was evaluated for the prevention of central venous catheter removal-associated coagulase-negative staphylococci sepsis.DESIGN:A prospective, open, randomized, controlled intervention study.SETTING:Twenty-eight-bed neonatal intensive care unit at a tertiary care children's hospital.PATIENTS:Eighty-eight preterm infants (gestational age <37 wks) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with indwelling percutaneously inserted central venous catheters.INTERVENTION:From April 2007 to January 2010, infants were randomized to receive two doses of cefazolin during removal of the percutaneously inserted central venous catheter (intervention group, n = 44) or no antimicrobial agent (control group, n = 44). Percutaneously inserted central venous catheter removal-associated sepsis was defined as sepsis occurring <48 hrs after removal of the percutaneously inserted central venous catheter.MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:Clinical characteristics and central venous catheter duration did not show differences between both groups. Five infants (11%) of the control group developed coagulase-negative staphylococci sepsis <48 hrs after removal of the percutaneously inserted central venous catheter compared to none (0%) in the intervention group (p = .021).CONCLUSIONS:Two doses of the anti-staphylococcal agent cefazolin during the procedure of removal of a percutaneously inserted central venous catheter were effective in the prevention of coagulase-negative staphylococci sepsis. It is recommended to include this regimen in the guidelines on management of central venous catheters in very-low-birth-weight infants.

Acta PaediatricaVolume 99, Issue 12 p. 1900-1902 SHORT COMMUNICATION Antibiotic weight-watching: slimming down on antibiotic use in a NICU TB Yves Liem, TB Yves Liem Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorAgnes Van Den Hoogen, Agnes Van Den Hoogen Department of Neonatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorCarin MA Rademaker, Carin MA Rademaker Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorToine CG Egberts, Toine CG Egberts Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorAndré Fleer, André Fleer Eijkman-Winkler Centre of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Inflammation, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorTannette G Krediet, Tannette G Krediet Department of Neonatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this author TB Yves Liem, TB Yves Liem Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorAgnes Van Den Hoogen, Agnes Van Den Hoogen Department of Neonatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorCarin MA Rademaker, Carin MA Rademaker Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorToine CG Egberts, Toine CG Egberts Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorAndré Fleer, André Fleer Eijkman-Winkler Centre of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Inflammation, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorTannette G Krediet, Tannette G Krediet Department of Neonatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this author First published: 29 October 2010 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01957.xCitations: 9 TBY Liem, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Room Ke.03.136.0, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel: 00 31 88 755 7218 | Fax: 00 31 88 755 5316 | Email: y.liem@umcutrecht.nl Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume99, Issue12December 2010Pages 1900-1902 RelatedInformation

OBJECTIVES To examine the variation in quantity and classes of antibiotics used in all 10 tertiary care neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the Netherlands during 2005. METHODS We collected data from all tertiary care NICUs in the Netherlands on clinical and demographic characteristics and the type and quantity of systemic antibiotic use [expressed as defined daily doses (DDD)/100 admissions] in 2005. Antibiotics were ranked by volume of DDDs, and those antibiotics which accounted for 90% of the total volume of use [drug utilization (DU) 90%] were noted. RESULTS Antibiotic consumption ranged from 130 to 360 DDD/100 admissions. In total, 9-24 different antibiotics were used, of which 3-10 were in the DU90% segment. CONCLUSIONS By comparing antibiotic use in Dutch NICUs we found a considerable variation in the number of different antibiotics used and in the total amount of antibiotic use. Further exploration of the opportunities to reach consensus in antibiotic policy, and to increase attention to antibiotic stewardship, is recommended.

To the Editors: Sepsis due to coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) is a frequent cause of morbidity among preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Multiple invasive procedures, especially the insertion of central venous catheters are recognized risk factors.1 In previous studies we have shown that infants with CoNS sepsis recovered after 24 hours (median, range: 24–72 hours) of antibiotic treatment, including normalization of values for IL-6, IL-8 and decreasing values for C-reactive protein (CRP).2,3 The recommended duration of treatment for neonatal CoNS sepsis is 7 to 10 days.4 We hypothesized that antibiotic treatment of CoNS sepsis may be terminated after a short course of 3 days, when clinical signs of sepsis have disappeared and CRP is decreasing. Among 22 preterm infants with proven CoNS sepsis we collected blood samples at the onset of sepsis and on the third day of treatment (between 48 and 72 hours) and determined colony-forming units/mL (CFU/mL). Data were compared with blood samples from 19 infants without sepsis, matched for gestational age and day of life. CoNS sepsis was considered proven in infants with clinical symptoms of sepsis and a blood culture yielding CoNS with time-to-positivity <48 hours.5 All infants were treated according to protocol with cefazolin (100 mg/kg/24 hours) and gentamicin (3.5 mg/kg/24 hours) intravenously. Blood samples drawn at onset of sepsis yielded 58 CFUs/mL (median, range: 1–500) in 22 infants with proven CoNS sepsis, whereas no CFUs were detected in the samples of the controls. In 21 of 22 infants with sepsis no CFUs were detected after 48 to 72 hours of treatment, whereas in the sample of 1 infant 5 CFUs/mL were detected. The blood isolate in this infant was not susceptible to cefazolin, whereas all other 21 isolates were susceptible to this agent. Moreover, as opposed to the other 21 infants, this infant still had signs of sepsis after 24 hours, which disappeared after the therapy was switched to vancomycin. The values for CRP were normal in all controls and in 20 of 22 infants (91%) with sepsis at the onset. CRP was increased in 14 of 22 (64%) after 24 hours and in 22 of 22 (100%) after 48 hours. On the third day of treatment CRP values decreased again in 18 of 22 (82%) infants. Nineteen of 22 infants (86%) recovered uneventfully. Three infants of 5 who retained their central venous catheter (CVC) at onset of sepsis had, after initial recovery, a recurrent episode of CoNS sepsis, which resolved after removal of the catheter. The preliminary results of our study show that bacteremia is resolved within 72 hours in all infants with CoNS sepsis treated with cefazolin and gentamicin, except for 1 infant with a cefazolin-resistant isolate. Clinical symptoms of sepsis disappeared after 24 hours of appropriate treatment and CRP-values decreased after 48 to 72 hours. Recurrent sepsis episodes were probably associated with an indwelling CVC. Therefore it is suggested that when a CVC is not removed, antimicrobial therapy should be continued. Our preliminary conclusion is that for infants treated for CoNS sepsis without indwelling CVC, showing early clinical recovery and decreasing values for CRP, antimicrobial therapy may be discontinued after 72 hours. However, a larger prospective, randomized controlled study is warranted to confirm this. Marieke A. C. Hemels, MD Malgorzata A. Verboon-Maciolek, MD Leo J. Gerards, MD Tannette G. Krediet, MD Department of Neonatology Wilhelmina Children's Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands André Fleer, MD Eijkman-Winkler Center for Microbiology Infectious Diseases and Inflammation University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands

Data from literature showed that a new type of metallic silver PMMA cement had good results in infection prophylaxis. This study investigated the in vivo efficacy of silver cement in the prevention of methicillin‐sensitive Staphylococcal infections, compared to plain and tobramycin‐containing cement. In 48 rabbits, 0.6% silver, 1% silver, plain, or tobramycin PMMA cement was injected into the femoral medullary canal after contamination with 105, 106, or 107 colony forming units (CFU) Staphylococcus aureus. After 14 days, bone was collected for bacteriology and histopathology. All plain and silver cement rabbits were infected, whereas only two tobra rabbits were infected (p < 0.001). The number of bacteria cultured (10logCFU) from bone adjacent to the cement, was 6.4 ± 0.3 and 6.1 ± 0.3 for the 0.6% and 1% silver rabbits. For the rabbits with plain and tobra cement, this was 6.2 ± 0.2 (p > 0.95) and 0.0 ± 0.0 (p < 0.001), respectively. Two tobra rabbits had a positive culture of a distal bone sample. Histological sections of plain, 0.6%, and 1% silver rabbits all showed signs of infection; these signs were absent in the tobra rabbits. Silver and plain cement were not effective in preventing infection, whereas tobra cement was effective. As silver cement predominantly exhibits an antimicrobial effect at the direct cement surface, this cement seems less useful in situations where there are bacteria present in surrounding tissues, like revision surgery. Whether silver cement has relevance in the prevention of bacterial colonization of cement remains to be determined. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27: 1002–1007, 2009

Background: In an era with increased maternal antibiotic use, patterns in early- and late-onset sepsis and antibiotic susceptibility may have changed. Objectives: To identify longitudinal trends in causative microorganisms for neonatal sepsis and analyze antibiotic susceptibility of all blood isolates of infants with sepsis. Methods: Early- and late-onset sepsis cases from 29 years (1978–2006) were studied retrospectively, in five clusters of 5 years (period I–V) and one cluster of 4 years (period VI), including antibiotic susceptibility profiles of blood isolates during the years 1999–2006. Results: The incidence of early-onset sepsis decreased (p < 0.01) from 4% during period I (1978–1982) to 1.2% during period VI (2003–2006). 78% of the infants with group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis were premature during period I, compared to 47% during period VI (p < 0.05). The incidence of early-onset Gram-negative infections remained low during all periods. The incidence of late-onset sepsis, predominantly caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) and Staphylococcus aureus, increased since period III from 7.1 to 13.9% in period VI (p < 0.01). Infections due to fungi or yeasts were rare (incidence <0.3%). The majority of CONS blood isolates were oxacillin-resistant, but vancomycin-susceptible. 95% of CONS blood isolates were susceptible for first-generation cephalosporins. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid-resistant Escherichia coli were infrequent causes of infection. Conclusions: The incidence of early-onset sepsis mainly caused by GBS decreased. In contrast, the incidence of late-onset sepsis, predominantly caused by CONS, increased significantly. The incidence of fungal and yeast infections remained low. The majority of CONS blood isolates were susceptible for first-generation cephalosporins.

No options are available for local antibiotic delivery from uncemented implants. By loading a porous titanium implant with a biomimetic HA‐coating (PeriApatite, PA) with antibiotics, we could obtain adequate local antibiotic concentrations and reduce infection susceptibility. This study investigated the efficacy of a tobramycin‐loaded PA‐coated titanium foam implant in preventing infection, as well as the effects on osseointegration. In 72 New Zealand White rabbits, an uncoated (Ti), PA‐coated (PA), or Tobramycin‐PA‐coated (PA‐tobra) titanium foam rod was implanted intramedullary in the left tibiae after contamination of the implant bed with none (control), 103, 104 or 105 CFU Staphylococcus aureus. PA‐tobra implants were loaded with 2.4 mg tobramycin. After 28 days analysis was done by bacteriology, histopathology and histomorphometry. Six percent of the contaminated PA‐tobra rabbits were infected, whereas this was 53 and 67% for PA and Ti, respectively (p < 0.001). Quantitative cultures were also significantly lower in the PA‐tobra group (p = 0.003). None of the control rabbits were infected. Histopathological and histomorphometrical scores were both better for the PA‐tobra group, although only significant compared to Ti. No significant differences were observed between PA and Ti rabbits. We conclude that the application of tobramycin to PA‐coated titanium foam implants appears to be an effective local antibiotic strategy for uncemented implants for infection prophylaxis and has a beneficial effect on implant fixation, which will result in improved long‐term implant survival. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27: 710–716, 2009

Background: Clinical signs of sepsis are frequently observed after removal of a percutaneously inserted central venous catheter (PCVC) in neonates admitted at our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). To substantiate this finding and to evaluate the effect of antibiotics administered at the time of removal of a PCVC, we conducted a retrospective study among all infants with a PCVC, admitted at our NICU during 2002 and 2005.Methods: Clinical data, infectious complications and use of antibiotics were studied retrospectively.Results: A PCVC was inserted in 345 infants. Sepsis occurred in 90/345 (26%) infants, in 50/90 (56%) during indwelling PCVC and in 40/90 (44%) after removal of the PCVC. Of the latter 40 sepsis episodes, 24 (60%) occurred within 5 days after removal of a PCVC with a clustering of 21 cases of sepsis within 72 h after the removal. The remaining 16 episodes occurred after 7 days. Administration of antibiotics during removal of the PCVC significantly reduced the incidence of sepsis: 22/213 (10.3%) cases of sepsis occurred when no antibiotics were administered versus 2/132 (1.5%) cases of sepsis when antibiotics were administered (p = 0.002).Conclusion: Our study suggests that peripherally inserted central venous catheters are associated with sepsis not only during the indwelling period of the catheter, but also after removal. Administration of antibiotics targeted at the time of removal of the catheter significantly reduced the incidence of sepsis. Future prospective studies are warranted to confirm this observation.

Background: Clinical signs of sepsis are frequently observed after removal of a percutaneously inserted central venous catheter (PCVC) in neonates admitted at our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). To substantiate this finding and to evaluate the effect of antibiotics administered at the time of removal of a PCVC, we conducted a retrospective study among all infants with a PCVC, admitted at our NICU during 2002 and 2005. Methods: Clinical data, infectious complications and use of antibiotics were studied retrospectively. Results: A PCVC was inserted in 345 infants. Sepsis occurred in 90/345 (26%) infants, in 50/90 (56%) during indwelling PCVC and in 40/90 (44%) after removal of the PCVC. Of the latter 40 sepsis episodes, 24 (60%) occurred within 5 days after removal of a PCVC with a clustering of 21 cases of sepsis within 72 h after the removal. The remaining 16 episodes occurred after 7 days. Administration of antibiotics during removal of the PCVC significantly reduced the incidence of sepsis: 22/213 (10.3%) cases of sepsis occurred when no antibiotics were administered versus 2/132 (1.5%) cases of sepsis when antibiotics were administered (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Our study suggests that peripherally inserted central venous catheters are associated with sepsis not only during the indwelling period of the catheter, but also after removal. Administration of antibiotics targeted at the time of removal of the catheter significantly reduced the incidence of sepsis. Future prospective studies are warranted to confirm this observation.

OBJECTIVE. We aimed to investigate differences in upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms in relation to respiratory viral infections detected with polymerase chain reaction assays in young children with cystic fibrosis and healthy control subjects. METHODS. In a 6-month winter period, 20 young children with cystic fibrosis and 18 age-matched, healthy, control subjects were contacted twice per week for detection of symptoms of an acute respiratory illness. If any symptom was present, then a home visit was made for physical examination and collection of nasopharyngeal swabs for viral analysis. In addition, parents were instructed to collect nasopharyngeal swabs every 2 weeks. RESULTS. Children with cystic fibrosis and healthy control subjects had similar frequencies of acute respiratory illnesses (3.8 ± 1.0 and 4.2 ± 1.7 episodes, respectively). Although there were no significant differences in upper respiratory tract symptoms, the children with cystic fibrosis had longer periods of lower respiratory tract symptoms (22.4 ± 22.2 vs 12.8 ± 13.8 days) and a higher mean severity score per episode (2.35 ± 0.64 vs 1.92 ± 0.46). In addition, similar increases in upper respiratory tract symptom scores were associated with significantly greater increases in lower respiratory tract symptom scores in children with cystic fibrosis. No differences in the seasonal occurrences and distributions of respiratory viruses were observed, with picornaviruses and coronaviruses being the most prevalent. CONCLUSIONS. Although there were no differences in the seasonal occurrences and distributions of polymerase chain reaction-detected respiratory viruses, acute respiratory illnesses were frequently associated with increased lower respiratory tract morbidity in young children with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis lung disease typically has a course of exacerbations and remissions, suggesting that external factors like viral infections can influence this course. Clinical data suggest synergism between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. We studied the influence of RSV infection on adherence of P. aeruginosa to IB3-1, HEp-2, and A549 epithelial cell monolayers in vitro . RSV infection of epithelial cells as well as simultaneous addition of RSV and P. aeruginosa to noninfected cells both strongly enhanced the pseudomonal adherence to epithelial cells. The increased adherence varied from 1.2- to 8.2-fold in case of previous RSV infection, and from 1.7- to 16.1-fold in case of simultaneous addition. We observed direct binding of RSV to P. aeruginosa , and blocking of RSV with heparin eliminated the effect on increased adherence. This suggests that RSV possibly acts as a coupling agent between P. aeruginosa and epithelial cells. In conclusion, RSV enhances P. aeruginosa infection of respiratory epithelial cells. It suggests a role of specific viral–bacterial interactions in exacerbations of CF lung disease, which could have important implications on prevention and treatment.

The discovery of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as essential components of the innate immune system has greatly advanced our knowledge and understanding of immune responses to infection and how these are regulated. Innate immunity in general and TLRs in particular play a crucial role in the front line of host defenses against microbes, but also are a key element in the proper functioning of the immune system at large in vertebrate animals. The innate immune system has been identified as a collection of factors, both cell-associated and cell-free, that comprises an impressively effective and well-organized system that is capable of immediate recognition of a whole array of microbes and microbial components. The cell-bound TLRs fulfill a central role in the process from pathogen recognition to activation of adaptive immunity. From the cell-free factors the plasma protein mannose-binding lectin (MBL) has been studied most extensively. Associations have already been documented between TLR polymorphisms in man and TLR deficiency in animals and an increased susceptibility to infection. The effect of MBL on infectious disease susceptibility only seems to emerge when host defenses are compromised by a severe underlying condition. The functional state of the various components of innate immunity at birth is largely unknown and only recently a number of studies have assessed this feature of the innate immune system. In addition, for the human newborn the innate immune system may have a broader significance; it may well be the key system determining the course of inflammatory events associated with premature birth, a notion that is emphasized by the recently described association between TLR polymorphisms and prematurity. However, there are still many open questions, particularly about the exact relation between individual TLRs and infectious disease susceptibility and how TLRs cooperate in resistance to infection and in initiating adaptive immune responses. With regard to the human newborn, the most relevant question that needs to be resolved is the precise role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of prematurity.