pediatrics
Neonatal Sepsis
Introduction
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 withampicillinplus eithergentamicinorcefotaxime, narrowed to organism-specific drugs as soon as possible. ( See also Sepsis and Septic Shock in adults and 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 None Infants with maternal perinatal risk factors (eg, low socioeconomic status, Prelabor Rupture of Membranes (PROM) ) Minorities Males 