1. ¹Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., (R.C.), Sunrise, FL, USA
2. ²Duke University Medical Center, (R.C., D.K.B.), Durham, NC, USA
3. ³Children's Mercy Hospital, (R.P.), Oakland, CA, USA
4. ⁴Memorial Hospital of South Bend, (R.W.), South Bend, ID, USA
5. ⁵Wesley Medical Center, (B.B.), Wichita, KS, USA
6. ⁶University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, (P.S), Dallas, TX, USA

Correspondence: Reese H. Clark, MD, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, FL 33323-2825, USA

Abstract

Nosocomial sepsis is a serious problem for neonates who are admitted for intensive care. It is associated with an increase in mortality, morbidity, and prolonged length of hospital stay. Thus, both the human and fiscal costs of these infections are high. Although the rate of nosocomial sepsis increases with the degree of both prematurity and low birth weight, no specific lab test has been shown to be very useful in improving our ability to predict who has a "real" blood-stream infection and, therefore, who needs to be treated with a full course of antibiotics. As a result, antibiotic use is double the rate of "proven" sepsis and we are facilitating the growth of resistant organisms in the neonatal intensive care unit. The purpose of this article is to describe simple changes in process, which when implemented, can reduce nosocomial infection rates in neonates and improve outcomes.