If in doubt, choose change

Abstract:

Antibiotics are administered to many preterm newborns and to a substantial proportion of term infants in the hours after birth due to risk for early-onset sepsis. The approaches taken to determine which newborns should be evaluated for early-onset sepsis, and what type and duration of antibiotics are administered, are important elements of neonatal antibiotic stewardship.

Probable bacterial infection is defined as the presence of maternal risk factors or clinical symptoms and elevated inflammatory parameters (C reactive protein≥10 mg/L or elevated procalcitonin concentrations according to the postnatal age-related nomogram) despite blood culture negativity.

Amongst this cohort, i.e. management of neonates at risk of early onset sepsis, this is also the biggest group of babies with extended length of antibiotic administration and duration of hospitalization. This talk aims to address the controversies surrounding the duration and choice of route of administration of antibiotics.

Biography:

Rohit Kumar is a consultant neonatologist working in a tertiary referral center. He serves as the Clinical Lead for Risk Management and Infectious Diseases and is the Neonatal Representative to the Regional Transfusion Medicine Committee, as well as the Preterm Birth and Intrapartum Care Group. He has regularly presented at various international conferences and published in reputed peer-reviewed journals. For the past decade, he has also been a key member of the organizing committee for the “Annual International Neonatal Conference” held in Middlesbrough.