A new nationwide population-based cohort study from Denmark reveals that early neonatal infection is strongly associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy, particularly severe motor outcomes.
Researchers analyzed over one million singleton live births in Denmark from 2004 to 2022, focusing on near-term and full-term infants without major congenital anomalies. Early-onset infection-defined as invasive bacterial sepsis or meningitis within the first week of life-was linked to significantly higher odds of cerebral palsy.
Among 8,151 infants with sepsis, the adjusted odds ratio for cerebral palsy was 8.13. Culture-positive sepsis increased the risk even further, with an odds ratio of 23.58. Meningitis showed the strongest associations, with an overall odds ratio of 49.27 and 79.57 for culture-confirmed cases.
Severe outcomes, including nonambulatory status and bilateral cerebral palsy subtypes, were more common in infected infants. The findings suggest that improved prevention, early detection, and treatment of neonatal infections could reduce long-term neurological disability, though further research is needed.