Neonatal Sepsis Screening and Antibiotic Stewardship

Neonatal Sepsis Screening and Antibiotic Stewardship

Unnecessary or prolonged antibiotic exposure in newborns can result in the separation of mother and baby, which may interfere with bonding and successful breastfeeding, creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, increased risk of preterm birth complications, a higher incidence of chronic conditions, including asthma, allergies, and obesity, and increased healthcare costs due to prolonged hospital stays. In 2019, NPQIC led an improvement initiative to implement the American Academy of Pediatrics' clinical recommendations for identifying and managing newborns at risk for early-onset sepsis in the state’s eight leading NICUs.  

The 2018 AAP Clinical Report provides recommendations to protect infants at risk for infection by focusing on strategies to help clinicians:  

• Carefully weigh the risks and benefits before administering antibiotics  
• Identify risk and response for neonatal early-onset sepsis diagnosis 
• Improve clinical practices to support decisions involving appropriate antibiotic administration 

NPQIC has developed a toolkit of resources to provide Nebraska birthing hospitals with the necessary education and support to implement best practices for identifying and managing newborns at risk for early-onset sepsis. The toolkit focuses specifically on the risk stratification of newborns using the Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis Calculator.  

Find out how you can implement best practices for identifying and managing newborns at risk for early onset sepsis using the Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis Calculator.  

Project Resources

NPQIC Antibiotic Stewardship for Neonatal Early Onset Sepsis Initiative Fact Sheet

NPQIC Toolkit: Clinical Guidelines for Neonatal Sepsis Screening and Antibiotic Stewardship (1/2022)

AAP Management of Infants at Risk for Group B Streptococcal Disease (2019)                                                                                   

AAP Management of Newborns Born at ≥35 0/7 Weeks’ Gestation With Suspected or Proven Early-Onset Bacterial Sepsis (2018)                                                         

AAP Management of Newborns Born at ≤34 6/7 Weeks’ Gestation With Suspected or Proven Early-Onset Bacterial Sepsis (2018)                                         

Estimating the Probability of Neonatal Early-Onset Infection on the Basis of Maternal Risk Factors (2011)                                             

ACOG Committee Opinion: Intrapartum Management of Intraamniotic Infection (2017)                                                        

ACOG Committee Opinion: Prevention of Group B Streptococcal Early-Onset Disease in Newborns (2020)