Objective  To observe the clinical manifestations of early-onset sepsis complicated with brain injury in late preterm infants (LPI).

  Methods  Totally 423 hospitalized infants with LPI in Department of Neonatology were selected, among which the infants with sepsis were designed as observation group(n=104), and the infants without sepsis were designed as control group(n=319). The general situation, clinical manifestations, change of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), treatment and outcome as well as score of 28-day Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) were compared between the two groups.

  Results  The incidence rates of apnea, hypotension and brain white matter injury in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The time of invasive mechanical ventilation and hospital stay were significantly longer of the infants with brain injury in the observation group, incidence of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and abnormal rate of NBNA were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  LPI with early-onset sepsis is more prone to brain injury, and the incidence of complications in hospital and abnormal rate of NBNA score are higher.