Background Prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM) is a risk factor for early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS). In the absence of early specific and sensitive diagnostic tools, management of asymptomatic infants is difficult. This study was conducted to investigate clinical outcomes of newborns born to mothers with PROM. Methods A retrospective study of neonates ≥ 34 weeks admitted due to PROM was conducted. Medical charts were reviewed. Neonates were classified into three categories based on their status at birth: ill appearing, well, and equivocal. Sepsis risk calculator was retrospectively applied. Results A total of 176 neonates were included. All mothers had unknown group B streptococcus (GBS) status. Of them, 74.4% were asymptomatic. Nine infants (5%) had positive cultures, and 23 infants (13%) had culture-negative sepsis. The newborns with sepsis fit into the “ill appearing” category with a significantly higher proportion (12.5% vs. 0.0%, P value < 0.0). Conclusions Reliable early diagnostic tools for neonatal sepsis are lacking. Adopting a protocol that utilizes multiple methods and follow-up for the clinical condition of these infants are the key factors to avoid missing neonates with true sepsis and decreasing the use of antibiotics in those without infection.

<p><strong><em>Background:</em></strong><em> Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is responsible for one?third of all preterm births worldwide. This aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of neonates born after prolonged PPROM with gestational age below 34 weeks. </em></p><p><strong><em>Materials and methods:</em></strong><em> This retrospective study included 65 patients who were born to mothers with Prolonged PPROM &lt;34 weeks gestation between January 2011 and December 2015 and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Jordan University Hospital. </em></p><p><strong><em>Results: </em></strong><em>The mean gestational age of included patients was (31.9 ± 2.5 weeks), mean birth weight was (1840 ± 583 g) and 43 (66.2%) were males. The mortality rate in those infants was 12.3 %. Gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar score were significantly lower among mortality cases compared to surviving cases (P &lt; 0.05). </em></p><p><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong><em> Prolonged PPROM before the 34^th gestational week is associated with high rate of morbidity and mortality, for which early identification of risk factors for developing PPROM can help in reducing the risk for preterm labors and subsequent burden on healthcare system.</em></p>