ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the information regarding neonatal susceptibility to, and acquisition of infection, the organisms commonly implicated and investigation and treatment modalities. Significant mortality and morbidity is associated with neonatal infection, particularly in the preterm and low birth weight population. Antimicrobials from the aminoglycoside group have both bactericidal action, by damaging the bacterial cell membrane, and bacteriostatic action. Cephalosporin antibiotics belong to the group of ß-lactam antimicrobials and are thus bactericidal. The neonatal nurse, with expert clinical skills and judgement, is pivotal in the early recognition of sepsis. It is imperative that sepsis is pre-empted or detected as early as possible, as the recognised inadequacies of the immune system response, and its inability to contain micro-organisms may lead to rapid proliferation and dissemination of pathogens leading to overwhelming septicaemia or meningitis or, at worst, death. Infants presenting with tachypnoea, grunting, recession and apnoea may have early onset congenital infection or respiratory distress syndrome.
