Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Rational Use of Antibiotics in Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract

Antibiotics are the most frequently prescribed drugs in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) due to the severity of complications accompanying neonatal sepsis. However, antimicrobial drugs are often used inappropriately due to the difficulties in diagnosing sepsis in the neonatal population. The reckless use of antibiotics leads to the development of resistant strains, rendering multidrug-resistant pathogens a serious problem in NICUs and a global threat to public health. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a brief overview of neonatal sepsis and an update on the data regarding indications for antimicrobial therapy initiation, current guidance in the empirical antimicrobial selection and duration of therapy, and indications for early discontinuation.

Neglected Populations Not to Be Forgotten: Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Neonatal Infections

“…Making further progress in reducing child mortality hinges on lowering the annual count of neonatal deaths; currently, this stands at 2.5 million, 23% of which are the direct result of infections [1]. Diagnosing severe bacterial infections (SBIs) in neonates can be challenging, in both resource-poor and resource-rich settings, as the symptoms and signs are often non-specific and difficult to detect.…”