Neonatal sepsis

Infection is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the newborn. The smaller and more preterm the baby, the higher the risk of infection and its consequences. Babies with risk factors or symptoms of infection should be screened and treated promptly. Group B streptococcus remains the leading cause of early onset infection. Late onset infection is predominated by coagulase negative staphylococci and gram-negative pathogens with increasingly resistant and unusual profiles. Increasing antimicrobial resistance is a global issue, and must be combated by robust infection control measures and implementation of antibiotic stewardship programmes including surveillance of infection episodes. While early detection and prompt management are vital in the prevention of adverse consequences of neonatal infection, it is imperative that antibiotic therapy is appropriately targeted to reduce the short and long term consequences of antibiotic use.