PMID: 26882580Feb 18, 2016Paper

Early Onset Sepsis

South Dakota Medicine : the Journal of the South Dakota State Medical Association
Kyrsten Johnson, Stephen Messier

Abstract

Early onset sepsis (EOS) is a worrisome, life-threatening condition in newborns with onset during the first week of life. Evaluation can be challenging due to the dynamic nature of the condition as the infant transitions to life ex-utero. Symptoms/signs can be nonspecific, thus, a high index of suspicion is warranted for subtle changes in condition including poor feeding, respiratory distress, or decreased activity. Common risk factors include chorioamnionitis, maternal fever, group B strep (GBS) colonization and preterm delivery. Despite universal screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP), GBS remains the most frequent cause of EOS followed by Escherichia coli (E. coli). While the gold standard for diagnosis remains a positive blood culture, lab evaluation frequently involves complete blood count (CBC) with differential, c-reactive protein (CRP), and evaluation of spinal fluid if the infant is stable. Unfortunately, there is not a lab test that is rapidly diagnostic for sepsis, so treatment should be empirically started until it is clear that the infant is not infected. Treatment often includes ampicillin and gentamicin for coverage of the most frequent pathogens. There is much debate about timing of discontinuati...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antifungals (ASM)

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Aminoglycosides

Aminoglycoside is a medicinal and bacteriologic category of traditional Gram-negative antibacterial medications that inhibit protein synthesis and contain as a portion of the molecule an amino-modified glycoside. Discover the latest research on aminoglycoside here.

CSF & Lymphatic System

This feed focuses on Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) and the lymphatic system. Discover the latest papers using imaging techniques to track CSF outflow into the lymphatic system in animal models.

Aminoglycosides (ASM)

Aminoglycoside is a medicinal and bacteriologic category of traditional Gram-negative antibacterial medications that inhibit protein synthesis and contain as a portion of the molecule an amino-modified glycoside. Discover the latest research on aminoglycoside here.

Antifungals

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.