Neonatal Sepsis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment | Kauvery Hospital

Neonatal Sepsis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment | Kauvery Hospital

Neonatal sepsis is a serious blood infection that occurs in babies below 3 months of age. In babies that young, the immune system is underdeveloped. They cannot fight infections very well, and the infection can spread to various critical organs in the body. Babies can acquire these fatal infections from the mother before or during delivery. They can also acquire it from their environment after birth. Premature babies are more susceptible to neonatal infections compared to babies born at term. All infections, whether they lead to sepsis or not, in the newborn baby must be taken seriously. Please take your baby to the paediatrician immediately if they run a temperature, refuse to eat, vomit frequently, have frequent diarrhea, have unexplained rashes, do not pass urine, have very dark urine, have difficulty breathing or cry persistently.

Neonatal sepsis is a serious medical condition affecting newborn infants, where the baby suffers from an infection in the bloodstream. Newborn babies are just getting used to functioning outside the womb, and an infection at this stage can be very difficult for their under-developed immune systems to fight. This can cause all sorts of complications leading to organ failure and other fatal outcomes. Early-onset neonatal sepsis begins showing symptoms (like fever) within the first week of the baby’s life. Late-onset neonatal sepsis can occur anywhere from 1 week to 3 months from the time of birth. Bacterial infections are the most common cause of neonatal sepsis. Pre-mature babies are more fragile, and more prone to developing neonatal sepsis. Neonatal sepsis is a medical emergency and the baby must be given urgent medical care without fail. Untreated neonatal sepsis has an almost 50% mortality rate.

Infants can have regular infections which do not lead to sepsis, although many of the symptoms are similar. There is no cause to panic, but please take your baby to the paediatrician even if their symptoms don’t appear that serious. The symptoms of neonatal sepsis are: – Body temperature changes (extreme highs and lows) – Difficulty with breathing – Diarrhea or constipation – Reduced movement – Reduced suckling – Seizures – Increased or decreased heart rate – Swollen belly – Repeated vomiting – Clammy, pale skin – Jaundice (when the eyes and/or skin appear yellow)

Neonatal sepsis is caused by acute infections. Most cases of neonatal sepsis are caused by bacterial infections, but they can also be caused by viruses, fungi, and parasites. Premature infants with low birth weight are more likely to develop neonatal sepsis. This is because their immune systems are usually under-developed at birth. They exit the womb unprepared for the stream of bacteria they could come in contact with after they are born. The symptoms of neonatal sepsis are also more non-specific in premature babies. This is why they are usually kept in the Neonatal ICU and monitored constantly for the first few days of their life.

Early-onset neonatal sepsis begins to show symptoms within the first week after the baby is born. In these cases, the infection commonly occurs through the mother. The infant can pick up the infection through the placenta, while it is still in the womb, or (more commonly) while passing through the mother’s cervix. Any infection which has colonised the mother’s genito-urinary (GU) tract could be acquired by the baby. This includes pathogens like Group B Streptococcus (GBS), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Haemophilus influenzae. Babies with early-onset neonatal sepsis are more likely to develop pneumonia.

Late-onset neonatal sepsis begins to show symptoms about a week after birth. In such cases, the infection is usually acquired after the delivery, from the baby’s new environment. Having a catheter or staying in the hospital for a prolonged time increases an infant’s chances of developing neonatal sepsis. If the baby needs treatment for any other medical condition that makes a prolonged hospital stay necessary, it is crucial to minimise contact with outsiders, other than the mother and the treating medical staff. Extended family members and well-wishers could unknowingly be transmitting infections to the delicate baby.

Sepsis in newborn infants is diagnosed on the basis of a “sepsis work-up”. This is a comprehensive panel of tests that includes: – Blood tests – Complete blood count, blood cultures, and C-reactive protein – Urine tests – Urinalysis, and urine culture – Imaging tests – Chest X-ray or ultrasound – Stool culture – Skin culture – Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

These tests help identify the pathogen causing the infection as well as the extent of damage it has done to the baby’s fragile systems. Identifying the pathogen is necessary to choose the correct treatment method.

The primary focus of treatment is to flush the infection out of the baby’s system as soon as possible. The baby will have to be admitted to the hospital and kept under constant monitoring during the diagnostics and the treatment. The most common approach taken is to provide the baby with an intravenous (IV) fluid with the necessary antibiotic or antiviral medication. IV fluids with broad-spectrum antibiotics are often started as a pre-emptive measure even before the results of the diagnostic tests come back with conclusive results. There is no time to be wasted when dealing with this condition. Once the conclusive test results come back, targeted medication can be given to the baby.

Mild cases of neonatal sepsis usually clear up with treatment. Once symptoms begin to reduce, the baby may be discharged for out-patient treatment. It is vital to keep coming back to the hospital for check-ups as prescribed by the treating physician.

In case of severe sepsis leading to septic shock, the heart rate and breathing of the baby will also have to be stabilised and constantly monitored. The IV fluids should help maintain blood pressure, but that is also constantly monitored. In all cases, the baby and its environment must be kept sterile to avoid any new potential infections.

Neonatal sepsis can be prevented by reducing the risk of infection on all foreseeable fronts. Here are some measures you can take, right from pregnancy, to reduce the risk of neonatal sepsis in your baby:

In conclusion, neonatal sepsis is a serious condition that requires prompt attention and appropriate treatment to ensure the health and safety of newborns. At Kauvery Hospital, with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive care for infants, including expert management of neonatal infections. Our team of specialized paediatricians and neonatologists is committed to monitoring and treating your baby with the utmost care. If you have concerns about your newborn’s health, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for guidance and support.

What is neonatal sepsis?
Neonatal sepsis is a serious blood infection in newborns, occurring within the first 3 months of life.

What are the common causes of neonatal sepsis?
It is caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, often acquired from the mother or the environment.

What are the symptoms of neonatal sepsis?
Symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, pale skin, and reduced feeding.

How is neonatal sepsis diagnosed?
Doctors perform blood tests, urine tests, imaging, and spinal tap to detect infections.

What is the treatment for neonatal sepsis?
Treatment includes IV antibiotics, fluids, and close monitoring in the hospital.

Can neonatal sepsis be prevented?
Yes, by maintaining hygiene, timely vaccinations, and early detection of infections in the mother.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 •  Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801