Table 3 Significant predictors of empiric antibiotic failure: results of univariate logistic regression analysis

Maternal and perinatal characteristics

Maternal chorioamnionitis (yes vs. no)

2.76 (1.24-6.17)

0.0132

Maternal smoking during pregnancy (yes vs. no)

3.13 (1.05-9.38)

0.041

Isolation of a pathogen from maternal urinary tract; birth canal or placenta during delivery

6.39 (1.36-29.97)

0.0187

Neonatal characteristics

1^st minute Apgar score (per 1 point increase)

0.79 (0.66-0.95)

0.0124

Birthweight (per 100 g increase)

0.94 (0.89-0.98)

0.008

Gestational age (per week increase)

0.88 (0.81-0.96)

0.004

Age on admission to ICU (per hour increase)

0.84 (0.70-0.99)

0.0411

Number of vasoactive drugs (per 1 additional drug)

2.50 (1.76-3.54)

0.000

Intolerance of enteral feeds within 3 days

2.64 (1.17-5.92)

0.0188

Laboratory characteristics

WBC <5000 or >20000 per mm³ on Day 1

3.42 (1.61-9.47)

0.0014

WBC <5000 or >20000 per mm³ on Day 2-3

2.84 (1.33-6.10)

0.0072

I/T ratio >0.2 on Day 1

3.90 (1.61-9.47)

0.0026

I/T ratio >0.2 on Day 2-3

4.25 (1.55-11.62)

0.0048

Platelet count on Day 1 (per 10,000 mm^-3 increase)

0.89 (0.83-0.95)

0.0003

Platelet count on Day 2-3 (per 10,000 mm^-3 increase)

0.86 (0.81-0.92)

0.0000

Haemoglobin on Day 2-3 (per 10 g/L increase)

0.72 (0.60-0.86)

0.0002

C-reactive protein > 10 mg/l on Day 1

3.34 (1.39-8.01)

0.007

C-reactive protein > 10 mg/l on Day 2-3

2.53 (1.17-5.45)

0.0179

Blood glucose < 3.0 mmol/l or >5.5 mmol/l on Day 1

4.28 (1.45-12.64)

0.0084

Blood glucose < 3.0 mmol/l or >5.5 mmol/l on Day 2-3

3.72 (1.55-8.97)

0.0034

Urea on Day 2-3 (per 1 mmol/L increase)

1.08 (1.00-1.16)

0.0411

Serum albumin on Day 2-3 (per 1 g/L increase)

0.82 (0.76-0.90)

0.0000

Serum AST on Day 2-3 (per 1 IU/L increase)

1.00 (1.00-1.00)

0.0231