Key points Initial/emergent management of neonatal seizures includes stabilization of the neonate, assessment and correction of reversible causes of seizures, and evaluation for sepsis/meningitis at the same time as antiseizure medications (ASMs) are initiated. Despite limited efficacy data and concern…
Key points Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) results in an intra-abdominal infection, and treatment includes antimicrobial therapy, bowel rest, parenteral nutrition, and surgery, if clinically or radiologically indicated. In the absence of evidence-based guidelines, many antibiotic combinations are used for NEC treatment…
Key points Sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis are common sources of morbidity and mortality in the premature infant population. There is a lack of consensus on the definition of neonatal sepsis, confounded by the overlap between pathologic and non-pathologic variability in…
Key points Neonatal ocular prophylaxis for prevention of gonococcal ophthalmia was first introduced by Credé in 1881. Gonococcal ophthalmia became and still is very uncommon due to the introduction in the 1950s of prenatal screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and treatment…
Key points The incidence of syphilis in the United States has been increasing since 2012. The two leading causes of missed congenital syphilis prevention opportunities are the lack of adequate maternal syphilis treatment despite a timely diagnosis and absence of…
Key points The incidence of COVID-19 in newborns is low; however, COVID-19 can still cause severe illness and complications. Evidence related to the COVID-19 pandemic and perinatal and neonatal care continues to evolve, but many unanswered questions remain. Pregnant and…
Key points Meningitis occurs most commonly in the neonatal period and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Of infants with meningitis, 15% to 38% have negative blood cultures. Selective evaluation of infants with culture-proven bacteremia can result in missed…
Key points Major risk factors for invasive Candida infections include extreme prematurity, a compromised gastrointestinal function or barrier, presence of a central venous catheter, and exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, acid suppression medications, and high-dose postnatal steroids. Infants at the highest…
Key points Antibiotics are lifesaving and improve outcomes in neonatal clinical care. Increasing evidence in animal and human models links antibiotic exposure with alterations in the microbiome, the developing immune system, and subsequent effects on health. Empiric antibiotic use is…
Key points Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a virus that can cause severe infection in a neonate but also has treatment options that can improve disease outcomes. There are three periods of acquisition of HSV: in utero, perinatal, and postnatal.…