Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract

Neonatal sepsis is associated with severe morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. Clinical manifestations range from subclinicalinfection to severe local or systemic infection. Neonatal sepsis is divided into three groups as early-onset neonatal sepsis,late-onset neonatal sepsis and very late-onset neonatal sepsis according to the time of the onset. It was observed that the incidenceof early-onset neonatal sepsis decreased with intrapartum antibiotic treatment. However, the incidence of late-onset neonatalsepsis has increased with the increase in the survival rate of preterm and very low weight babies. The source of the causativepathogen may be acquisition from the intrauterine origin but may also acquisition from maternal flora, hospital or community.Prematurity, low birth weight, chorioamnionitis, premature prolonged rupture of membranes, resuscitation, low APGAR score,inability to breastfeed, prolonged hospital stay and invasive procedures are among the risk factors. This article reviews currentinformation on the definition, classification, epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods andtreatment of neonatal sepsis.