What is Neonatal Sepsis?
Neonatal sepsis is a serious illness that affects infants younger than 90 days old. Please note that its signs and symptoms are non-specific.
Medically reviewed by Ruben Macapinlac, MD, DPPS · Pediatrics · Philippine Pediatric Society
Neonatal sepsis is a serious illness that affects infants younger than 90 days old. Please note that its signs and symptoms are non-specific.
For premature babies, the risk of developing neonatal sepsis is greater because of their undeveloped immune system.
Despite being a serious condition, neonatal sepsis can be treated, especially if detected early on.
It primarily affects a newborn’s blood, but it can also affect the rest of the body. A number of things can cause neonatal sepsis, but bacterial infection is the most common source of infection.
Parents should be especially wary of this illness, and it is important for them to know what signs to watch out for, and what they can do to prevent this from happening to their newborn.
Why Isn’t My Baby Kicking? – Reasons for Decreased Fetal Movement
Neonatal sepsis can be caused by different types of bacteria, and it varies depending on where the baby got the infection.
Here are some of the possible causes:
On top of bacterial causes, please remember that some viruses and fungi could also cause neonatal sepsis.
In early onset sepsis, bacteria can enter the uterus through the vagina and infect a newborn in utero. You can also define this as an infection occuring during or after birth in less than 7 days.
Infection is also possible as the baby passes through the vaginal canal during birth.
Late-onset sepsis, on the other hand, occurs when the baby is infected after birth. Infection could arise through contact with adults with unsanitized hands.You can also define this as an infection acquired in the hospital or community after the baby’s 7th day of life.
The following risk factors can greatly increase a newborn’s risk for sepsis, and it would be best for parents and caregivers to try and avoid these factors as much as possible.
The symptoms of sepsis can be hard to identify, especially during the early stages. Additionally, the symptoms of sepsis can vary depending on what is causing the infection, and which part of the newborn’s body is infected.
However, here is a quick list of some common symptoms to watch out for:
If your baby shows any of these symptoms of sepsis, it would be best to take them to the doctor immediately so that they can get tested.
Once in the hospital, doctors usually conduct a series of tests to check if it is indeed sepsis.
Here are some possible methods of diagnosis:
In order to find out if there is bacteria in the blood and to identify what type of bacteria it is, a blood culture is conducted.
In this process, a sample of blood will be taken from your baby, and it will be used in a bacterial culture to check for the presence of bacteria.
This process can take a few days, so in the meantime doctors will start on the main treatment for sepsis. Once the type of bacteria is identified, doctors can then proceed to treatment that will address that specific type of bacteria if necessary.
A blood test helps check for any signs of sepsis in the kidneys, liver, and blood cells. This helps doctors know where the sepsis is, and if any other organs are infected.
Just like a blood culture, a urine culture takes a urine sample and then it is used in a bacterial culture. This helps check for any bacteria that might be present in the urinary tract which can potentially be the cause of neonatal sepsis.
In a lumbar puncture, a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken from the spine using a needle. This tests for meningitis which is a possible complication of sepsis.
An x-ray can also be used to check the baby’s lungs, heart, and abdominal organs, to see if there are any signs of an infection.
Treatment for neonatal sepsis can vary depending on how old the baby is, their current state of health, and how severe their symptoms are.
If your doctor suspects that your child has sepsis, they will admit the baby and immediately start with broad-spectrum antibiotics. This will help fight off any bacteria while the doctor waits for test results.
Once they get the results, the treatment can change to target specifically the bacteria that is causing the problem.
Newborns and premature babies are especially vulnerable to sepsis. When a doctor suspects that a newborn has sepsis, the newborn is usually taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Your baby will be watched very closely in the NICU, and will be provided antibiotics, medicine, fluids, food, and oxygen support if it is needed. Treatment in the NICU is especially important since neonatal sepsis is life-threatening especially for newborns.
For the most part, sepsis can’t be prevented. This is especially true if the baby gets infected while in the womb, or during childbirth.
In these situations, the best thing to do would be to take your newborn to the doctor immediately.
Even if sepsis can’t be prevented, there are some things that parents can do to help lower the risk of sepsis in their newborn.
By following these tips, parents can help lower the risk of sepsis in their newborn.
When it comes to neonatal sepsis, parents should not worry too much. The important thing would be to get regular checkups, practice good hygiene, and be sure to take note of any peculiar symptoms in your newborn.
Learn more about Parenting and Babies here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
People Are Also Reading This
Comments
Share your thoughts
Be the first to let Hello Doctor know your thoughts!
Join Us or Log In to join the discussion