Why do NICU babies sometimes get infections with no clear cause?

Posting as Porter Law Group, NY — medical info only.

Newborns, especially those born early, are vulnerable to infection even with excellent care — a NICU stay involving infection doesn't automatically mean something went wrong. That said, infection is a recognized risk factor for later brain injury, and some babies who look fully recovered at NICU discharge show developmental delays months or years later. That's why long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up gets recommended for babies who had a significant infection, even after they seem fine.

For more information: Neonatal Infection and Brain Injury