Ciprofloxacin Administration to Very Low Birth Weight Babies has no Effect on Linear Growth in Infancy

There is limited information whether the use of ciprofloxacin in the neonatal period affects the linear growth of very low birth weight (VLBW) babies in infancy. This was a retrospective cohort study on VLBW babies followed up until 12 months corrected age (12-mCA). Exclusions were: infants with no length record taken at 12-mCA, who received ciprofloxacin after neonatal period, were neurologically abnormal, growth retarded in utero or congenitally malformed, had chronic systemic illnesses or endocrinopathies in infancy. Cases were defined as those who received intravenous ciprofloxacin (10 mg/kg/dose 12-hourly) for at least 3 days in the neonatal period, whereas controls were those not exposed to ciprofloxacin during neonatal life. Of 205 babies included in the study, there were 61 cases and 144 controls. Length at 12-mCA was similar in both groups [71.9 +/- 3.0 cm and 71.7 +/- 3.3 cm; p = 0.95]. On multi-variate linear regression analysis, length at a post-conceptional age of 40 weeks and sex emerged as independent predictors of length at 12-mCA. Ciprofloxacin administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg/dose 12-hourly for 3 days or more to VLBW babies does not affect their linear growth until 12 months corrected age.