Association between Duration of Early Empiric Antibiotics and Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants

Background: Early empiric antibiotic exposure (EEAE) is a common practice in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to prevent infections in preterm infants. However, concerns have arisen regarding its potential association with adverse outcomes, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS). This study aims to evaluate the relationship between EEAE and the incidence of NEC and LOS in preterm infants. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 48 preterm neonates admitted to the NICU from January to August 2024. Participants were divided into two groups based on the duration of EAE: Group I those receiving prolonged antibiotics (>7days)and GroupII those receiving short-term antibiotics(