Use of ciprofloxacin in neonatal sepsis: lack of adverse effects up to one year.

Aim: To investigate the adverse effects of ciprofloxacin administered to neonates with sepsis on the hematologic indices, the hepatic and renal function and the joints and growth at 1 year follow-up.

Methods: In this observational prospective study, 2 groups of septic neonates were studied, 116 neonates who received ciprofloxacin and 100 neonates matched for gestational age and birth weight who did not receive ciprofloxacin. In all neonates the leukocyte and platelet counts as well as the serum concentrations of transaminases, bilirubin, albumin, urea and creatinine were measured before initiation of treatment and on the 10th and 15th to 20th days after treatment initiation. In 77 and 83 infants of the ciprofloxacin and control groups, respectively, the growth at the end of the first year of life was evaluated.

Results: No significant differences between the two groups were found in the hematologic and biochemical indices as well as growth at the end of the first year of life. Also no clinical evidence of arthropathy was observed.

Conclusions: Treatment of neonatal sepsis with ciprofloxacin resulted in no short term hematologic, renal or hepatic adverse effects and did not appear to be associated with clinical arthropathy or growth impairment at 1 year follow-up evaluation.