Management of the Moderate and Late Preterm Infant – MM1706
Preterm birth (<37 completed weeks) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. The
majority of research in Southern Africa is traditionally focused on premature infants born at a gestational age
(GA) < 32 weeks, which are at greatest risk. Until recently preterm infants with GA >32 to 36 weeks,
the moderate preterm (32 0/7 – 33 6/7) and late preterm (34 0/7 to 36 6/7) had not been evaluated.3 In practice,
the late preterm infant tends to be considered by the obstetrician and neonatologist, to have a very similar
course to those infants born at term. However, despite being lower risk than extremely premature infants,
moderate and late preterm infants have a much higher risk of death and complications than those infants born at
term.
Modern Medicine – June 2017
