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Stable rates of neonatal sepsis in a tertiary neonatal unit
Author(s) -
Lean Wei Ling,
Kamlin Camille O,
Garland Suzanne M,
Jacobs Susan E
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12715
Subject(s) - medicine , sepsis , discontinuation , neonatal intensive care unit , antibiotics , neonatal sepsis , pediatrics , blood culture , cohort , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Aims To describe the rate of early‐ and late‐onset sepsis in neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the R oyal W omen's H ospital and to compare the rate of late‐onset sepsis ( LOS ) with a published (2008) cohort from the same unit. The secondary aim was to examine clinicians' compliance with antibiotic guidelines. Methods Infants born <32 weeks' gestation or <1500 g admitted between 1 J uly 2011 and 31 D ecember 2011 were included. Strict definitions of sepsis and compliance with antibiotic guidelines were applied. Results One hundred and seventy‐two infants met the inclusion criteria, with 152 having blood culture evaluations for early‐onset sepsis ( EOS ) and 58 having 109 evaluations for LOS . Definite EOS occurred in 1.3% with E scherichia coli isolated. The rate of definite LOS in 2011 of 22% was not significantly different than the 27% in 2008, with coagulase‐negative staphylococcus the main isolate. Antibiotic continuation beyond 72 h in infants with negative blood cultures was the main reason for non‐compliance with antibiotic guidelines. Conclusions The rate of EOS is comparable with published reports and the rate of LOS has remained stable over a 3‐year period. Discontinuation of antibiotics with negative septic markers and blood cultures at 48–72 h is encouraged.