ABSTRACT
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a relatively common disease in the newborn involving ischemic necrosis of the bowel. It is a clinical syndrome that probably has multiple factors in its etiology. Various studies have suggested that type of feeding, prematurity, low birthweight, umbilical catheterization, hypoxemia, and other conditions inhibiting oxygen delivery to the gut may predispose the newborn to the development of NEC.1,2 The role of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as viruses in epidemic necrotizing enterocolitis has also been suggested.3-5
EPIDEMIOLOGY The occurrence of NEC was sporadic until 1965,6 although epidemics of the disease were reported on many occasions, first in South Africa in 19727,8 and then in India.9 The first epidemic of NEC reported in the United States occurred in 1974 and 1975.10,11 Sporadic cases are recognized with increasing frequency.
