Neonatal Sepsis Workups in Infants >= 2000 Grams at Birth: A Population-Based Study

Few data are available on the outcome of neonatal sepsis evaluations in an era when intrapartum antibiotic therapy is common. We identified all newborns weighing >/=2000 g at birth who were ever evaluated for suspected bacterial infection at 6 Kaiser Permanente hospitals between October 1995 and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Pediatrics (Evanston) Vol. 106; no. 2; pp. 256 - 263
Main Authors:	Escobar, Gabriel J, Li, De-kun, Armstrong, Mary Anne, Gardner, Marla N, Folck, Bruce F, Verdi, Joan E, Xiong, Blong, Bergen, Randy, Neonatal Infection Study Group
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Elk Grove Village, IL Am Acad Pediatrics 01-08-2000 American Academy of Pediatrics
Subjects:	Ampicillin - administration & dosage Analysis. Health state Babies Bacterial infections Bacteriological Techniques Biological and medical sciences Cephalosporins - administration & dosage Diagnosis Epidemiology Evidence-Based Medicine Follow-Up Studies General aspects Health aspects Humans Infant, Low Birth Weight Infant, Newborn Infant, Premature, Diseases - diagnosis Infant, Premature, Diseases - prevention & control Infants (Newborn) Infections Medical sciences Newborn infants Patient Readmission Pediatrics Prospective Studies Public health. Hygiene Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine Risk Factors Sepsis Sepsis - diagnosis Sepsis - prevention & control Streptococcal Infections - diagnosis Streptococcal Infections - prevention & control Streptococcus agalactiae United States North America America Human Infection Neonatal Newborn Prevalence Bacteriosis Multivariate analysis Predictive factor Epidemiology Public health
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Summary:	Few data are available on the outcome of neonatal sepsis evaluations in an era when intrapartum antibiotic therapy is common. We identified all newborns weighing >/=2000 g at birth who were ever evaluated for suspected bacterial infection at 6 Kaiser Permanente hospitals between October 1995 and November 1996, reviewed their records and laboratory data, and tracked them to 1 week after discharge. We analyzed the relationship between key predictors and the presence of neonatal bacterial infection. Among 18 299 newborns >/=2000 g without major congenital anomalies, 2785 (15.2%) were evaluated for sepsis with a complete blood count and/or blood culture. A total of 62 (2.2%) met criteria for proven, probable, or possible bacterial infection: 22 (.8%) had positive cultures and 40 (1.4%) had clinical evidence of bacterial infection. We tracked all but 10 infants (.4%) to 7 days postdischarge. There were 67 rehospitalizations (2.4%; 2 for group B streptococcus bacteremia). Among 1568 infants who did not receive intrapartum antibiotics, initial asymptomatic status was associated with decreased risk of infection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]:.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]:.11-.63), while chorioamnionitis (AOR: 2. 40; 95% CI: 1.15-5.00), low absolute neutrophil count (AOR: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.50-5.38), and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (AOR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.18-4.21) were associated with increased risk. Results were similar among 1217 infants who were treated, except that maternal chorioamnionitis was not significantly associated with neonatal infection. The risk of bacterial infection in asymptomatic newborns is low. Evidence-based observation and treatment protocols could be defined based on a limited set of predictors: maternal fever, chorioamnionitis, initial neonatal examination, and absolute neutrophil count. Many missed opportunities for treating mothers and infants exist.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0031-4005 1098-4275
DOI:	10.1542/peds.106.2.256