Abstract
Background
According to most early-onset sepsis management guidelines, approximately 10% of the total neonatal population are exposed to antibiotics in the first postnatal days with subsequent increase of neonatal and pediatric comorbidities. Early-onset sepsis risk calculator has been developed with the purpose of avoiding antibiotic overtreatment among neonates ≥ 34 weeks’ gestational age: a review of literature demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing antibiotic overtreatment, laboratory testing, painful procedures and NICU admission; however, some missed cases of culture-positive early-onset sepsis have also been described.
Methods
All neonates with birth weight ≤ 1500 g, 34–36 weeks’ gestational age neonates with suspected intraamniotic infection and neonates with three clinical signs of early-onset sepsis or two signs and one risk factor for early-onset sepsis receive empirical antibiotics. Neonates ≥ 34 weeks’ gestational age with risk factors for early-onset sepsis or with one clinical indicator of early-onset sepsis undergo serial measurements of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the first 48–72 hours of life; they receive empirical antibiotics in case of abnormalities at blood exams with one or more clinical signs of early-onset sepsis. We therefore compared the number of patients for which antibiotics were needed, based on early-onset sepsis calculator, and the number of patients we treated with antibiotics during the study period. Comparisons between the groups were performed using McNemar’s test and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
During the study period (1st January 2018-31st December 2018) 32/265 (12.1%) neonates ≥ 34 weeks’ gestational age at risk for early-onset sepsis received antibiotics within the first 12 hours of life. According to early-onset sepsis calculator: 55/265 (20.7%) patients would have received antibiotics with early-onset sepsis incidence 2/1000 live births (p < 0.0001); 44/265 (16.6%) patients would have received antibiotics with early-onset sepsis incidence 0.1/1000 live births (p < 0.025). One patient with culture-negative early-onset sepsis would not have received antibiotics with an early-onset sepsis incidence of 0.1/1000 live births.
Conclusion
Our evidence-based protocol for treatment decision-making of neonatal early-onset sepsis entails a further decrease of antibiotic overtreatment compared to early-onset sepsis risk calculator. No negative consequences for patients were observed.
SEPSIS CALCULATOR FOR NEONATAL EARLY ONSET SEPSIS ‐ A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META‐ANALYSIS
