IntroductionEarly onset neonatal sepsis is a rare but potentially lethal affection which is very often suspected. Previous national guidelines recommended the use of systematic paraclinic tests for healthy newborns with suspected infection. These guidelines have been updated in 2017 by the French Haute Autorité de Santé, and promote initial clinical monitoring taking into account the infectious risk level for term and near term born infants.Objectives: To assess the impact of the new recommendations on antibiotic therapy prescription and on the outcomes of infants born from 36 weeks gestation.
Materials and methodsThis study compared the management and the outcome of neonates born from 36 weeks gestation in the level III University Hospital of Nancy, according to their infectious risk level during two periods, before and after the update of national recommendations: from July 1 st to December 31 st 2017, versus July 1 st to December 31 st 2018. Data were retrospectively first period, there were 18 newborns (1.4%) hospitalized for suspicion of infection versus 9 (0.8%) in the second (p = 0.13). The duration of hospitalization was 5.7+/-1.7 days in the first period versus 5.2 +/-3 days in the second (p = 0.33).
ConclusionThe application of the new guidelines enables a reduction of antibiotic exposure without additional risk.