BACKGROUND: Advances in neonatology have markedly improved prognosis for 
premature babies in recent years. However, they have also entailed the need for 
recourse to considerable intensive care involving potentially iatrogenic 
diagnostic and therapeutic acts. Among the resulting iatrogenic events, 
cutaneous lesions are the most frequent but have been the subject of very few 
studies. Our own study thus aimed to assess the rate of iatrogenic cutaneous 
events in premature infants born at less than 33 weeks of amenorrhea and 
hospitalised at Besançon university hospital and to identify the factors 
associated with the occurrence of these events.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study carried out in the department 
of paediatric intensive care and neonatology at Besançon university hospital 
between May 2011 and April 2012. All babies born before 33 weeks of amenorrhea 
hospitalised over this period were included. An iatrogenic event was defined as 
"an adverse event related to a medical procedure". Iatrogenic cutaneous events 
were reported to the dermatologist by medical and paramedical staff.
RESULTS: One hundred and thirthteen newborn babies were included during the 
study period. Twenty-six iatrogenic cutaneous events were recorded in 19 
infants, representing 16.8% of the population involved: nine were associated 
with ventilation techniques, six with the use of intravenous catheters, five 
with electrodes, two involved pressure sores, two were linked to the birth, one 
to disinfectants and one to dressings. The main risk factor was low birth weight 
(P=0.016). High prematurity and the duration of ventilation increased the risk, 
although not significantly. The death rate was higher in children with 
iatrogenic events but the difference was not significant. The duration of 
hospitalisation was unaffected by the presence or absence of an iatrogenic 
event.
CONCLUSION: The frequency of iatrogenic cutaneous events is high in hospital 
departments in charge of very premature infants. Awareness by the medical and 
paramedical staff of the frequency of such iatrogenic events should improve the 
quality of care.