Table 1 Our internal protocol with clinical signs and red flags of sepsis. Clinical sepsis, with no positive blood culture, was diagnosed in presence of at least two clinical signs or at least one red flag sign
From: Cord blood presepsin as a predictor of early-onset neonatal sepsis in term and preterm newborns
Clinical signs | Abnormal reactivity Abnormal tone Feeding intolerance (vomit, aspirates, abdominal distension) Bradycardia or tachycardia Central cyanosis or low SpO2 Jaundice within the first 24 h of life Apnoea Hypothermia (< 36 °C) or hyperthermia (> 38 °C) Thrombocytopenia or coagulopathy (INR > 2) with no obvious cause Persisting oliguria (more than the first 24 h of life) Hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (beyond an adequate glucose intake) Metabolic acidosis (BE ≥ -10 mmol/L) Localized infectious signs (skin, eyes) |
Red flags | Respiratory distress whose onset is at 4 or more hours of life Seizures Mechanical ventilation in term infants Shock |