Insight Into Neonatal Sepsis: An Overview

Abstract

There are approximately 1.3 million cases of neonatal sepsis reported worldwide with deaths occurring more commonly in preterm and low-weight newborns. Neonatal sepsis is the third major cause of neonatal deaths resulting in 203,000 deaths per year. It is divided into two subtypes based on time of occurrence: early-onset neonatal sepsis (ENS), occurring within the first 72 hours of birth usually due to perinatal risk factors, and late-onset neonatal sepsis (LOS) usually occurring after the first week of life and up to 28th day of life. There are many complications associated with neonatal sepsis including septic shock, multiple organ failure, and death. It is vital for clinicians to know the signs and symptoms of neonatal sepsis in order to diagnose it early. Preventive measures, early diagnosis, appropriate antibiotic administration, timely supportive management, and the establishment of efficient management are vital in the prevention of severe complications or death. In this review, we aim to provide the most up-to-date information regarding risk factors, pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of neonatal sepsis. We discuss the maternal and neonatal risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of neonatal sepsis and the signs and symptoms of early and late neonatal sepsis. We focus on the different pathogens involved and the markers used in the diagnosis and treatments available for each.

Antibiotic Analgesic-Sedative and Antiseizure Medications Frequently Used in Critically Ill Neonates: A Narrative Review

“…Ampicillin and gentamicin are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as the first choice for empirical therapy of EOS. Another important issue neonatologists should be aware of is the increasing ampicillin resistance of E. coli and other Gram-negative pathogens, while the majority of them remains susceptible to gentamicin [27][28][29]. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the use of benzylpenicillin instead of ampicillin, while a combination of narrow-spectrum antibiotics (such as intravenous flucloxacillin plus gentamicin) is recommended for LOS, as well [30].…”

Microbiological Characteristics and Resistance Patterns in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Surveillance Study

“…This classification has effects on the suspected organism, potential risk factors, and proposed empirical therapy [5]. Neonatal sepsis is predominantly induced by various species of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with sporadic instances including fungi such as Candida species [6].…”