Early-onset sepsis (EOS) remains a serious and often fatal illness among infants born
preterm, particularly among newborn infants of the lowest gestational age. Currently, most
preterm infants with very low birth weight are treated empirically with antibiotics for risk of
EOS, often for prolonged periods, in the absence of a culture-confirmed infection.
Retrospective studies have revealed that antibiotic exposures after birth are associated with
multiple subsequent poor outcomes among preterm infants, making the risk/benefit balance …

The incidence of neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) has declined substantially over the last
2 decades, primarily because of the implementation of evidence-based intrapartum
antimicrobial therapy. However, EOS remains a serious and potentially fatal illness.
Laboratory tests alone are neither sensitive nor specific enough to guide EOS management
decisions. Maternal and infant clinical characteristics can help identify newborn infants who
are at risk and guide the administration of empirical antibiotic therapy. The incidence of EOS …