Predicting Risk for Early-Onset Sepsis in Newborns

The incidence of early-onset sepsis (EOS; 0.5–1.2/1000 live births) in term and near-term infants (>34 weeks' gestation) has dropped substantially in the past 20 years. Much of the decline can be attributed to the reduced incidence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) sepsis. However, evaluation for EOS is not standardized and the accuracy of predicting newborns at highest risk for sepsis is poor, resulting in overtreatment with empiric antibiotics. In a retrospective case-control study, researchers developed a risk-stratification strategy based on maternal risk factors and newborn clinical factors from >600,000 live births (>34 weeks' gestation) at three U.S. healthcare networks.

All 350 newborns with culture-confirmed EOS within 72 hours of birt…