Neonatal sepsis

[Raeanne Dimick]

Neonatal sepsis is invasive infection, usually bacterial, occurring during the neonatal period. Signs are multiple, nonspecific, and include diminished spontaneous activity, less vigorous sucking, apnea, bradycardia, temperature instability, respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distention, jitteriness, seizures, and jaundice. Diagnosis is clinical and based on culture results. Treatment is initially with ampicillin plus either gentamicin or cefotaxime , narrowed to organism-specific drugs as soon as possible.
(See also Sepsis and Septic Shock in adults and Overview of Neonatal Infections.)
Neonatal sepsis occurs in 0.5 to 8.0/1000 births. The highest rates occur in

Low-birth-weight (LBW) infants
Infants with depressed function at birth as manifested by a low Apgar score
Infants with maternal perinatal risk factors (eg, low socioeconomic status, premature rupture of membranes)
Minorities
Males