Epidemiology of necrotizing enterocolitis at the University of Utah Newborn Intensive Care Center

The purpose of this exploratory-descriptive study was to collect data relating to the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis. The sample consisted of 21 newborn infants admitted to a newborn intensive care regional medial center who had necrotizing enterocolitis during the year June 1987 to June 1988. A control group of 21 infants was matched to this group. Data were collected by chart review. Data analysis revealed a group of five symptoms on which a diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis was most often based. The data analysis also showed a strong trend for the occurrence of clustering in necrotizing enterocolitis. According to the data, smaller infants are diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis later in life than are larger babies. There was little or no relationship between necrotizing enterocolitis and the placement of umbilical artery catheters and/or the presence of patent ductus arteriosus, and no difference in feeding practices between the control group and the disease group.