High Survival Rate (99.40%) for Neotates Hospitalized in the NICU

06 June 2016

At MITERA, which just celebrated 37 years of operation, neonatal and perinatal mortality for the 2-year period 2014-2015 remain at extremely low levels, much lower than the national average.

Specifically, neonatal mortality was just 0.90‰ (per mil) in 2014 and 1.1‰ in 2015, while perinatal mortality dropped significantly from 4.33‰ in 2014 to 3.13‰ in 2015.

In Greece, according to the National Statistical Service (ELSTAT), neonatal mortality was 2.63‰ and perinatal mortality was 5.66‰ in 2014, while there are no statistics available yet for 2015.

Neonatal mortality (death of a newborn in the first 4 weeks of life) and perinatal mortality (the number of stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life) are internationally considered the most reliable indexes for assessing the quality of healthcare services in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and among the best healthcare service indexes nationally.

The infection rates (especially Gram-negative bacilli) were also extremely low, while in the 5-year period 2011-2015, no neonates died either due to early-onset (i.e. less than 72 hours after birth) or late-onset (i.e. over 72 hours after birth) neonatal sepsis. Moreover, no multi-drug resistant bacteria were isolated in the NICU in the same period.

As noted by Dr Meni Saklamaki-Kontou, Pediatrician/Neonatologist and Director of the MITERA NICU, “The extremely low neonatal and perinatal mortality rates at MITERA are comparable to those in developed countries globally. Besides, having an organized NICU – the first such Unit to operate within a private maternity hospital – makes the parents who entrust the birth of their child to MITERA feel as safe as possible. The excellent cooperation among neonatologists, obstetricians and other specialists, as well as the nursing and paramedical staff, coupled with the exemplary operation of the Unit, have contributed to maintaining the survival rates of neonates born at MITERA and neonates hospitalized at the NICU at very high rates (99.86% and 99.40% respectively).”