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In response: Is early onset sepsis risk calculator safe for the management of neonates born to mothers with chorioamnionitis?

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 771–772 (2018)Cite this article

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We appreciate the interest by Dr. Aghai in our article and pertinent questions. The benefit of the early-onset sepsis (EOS) calculator lies in providing an explicit estimate of EOS in every infant to help guide initial management based on a calculated risk. As more institutions have developed protocols based on the EOS calculator, some have raised concern over potentially missed cases of EOS.

As every risk-factor-based approach has inherent limitations [1], we highlight the importance of continued physical exam along with other studies [2] in the management of infants at-risk of EOS. To decrease the chance of missed EOS, we admit all asymptomatic infants born to mothers with chorioamnionitis at our institution to an Observation Nursery, a unit within our NICU where infants undergo frequent physical examinations and continuous pulse oximetry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, New York, NY, USA

    Nathan Money, Philip Roth & Jonathon Blau

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  1. Nathan Money
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  2. Philip Roth
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  3. Jonathon Blau
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Correspondence to Jonathon Blau.

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Money, N., Roth, P. & Blau, J. In response: Is early onset sepsis risk calculator safe for the management of neonates born to mothers with chorioamnionitis?. J Perinatol 38, 771–772 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0072-4

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