Rationale and potential use of cytokines in the prevention and treatment of neonatal sepsis

Despite advances in the use of new antimicrobial therapy and progressive methods of supportive care, sepsis remains a major source of morbidity and mortality for the neonate, especially the very low birth weight neonate. Myelopoietic cytokines, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor may prove to be a safe and effective therapy to prevent or use as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of sepsis in the neonate. This article focuses on the rationale for use of cytokines in high-risk neonates and the results of phase I and phase II clinical trials using cytokines in the prophylaxis or treatment of neonatal sepsis.