ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the relationship between maternal antepartum fever and early-onset neonatal bacterial sepsis.Methods A retrospective multi-centred clinical study of 404 neonates including 103 new borns with maternal antepartum fever and 311 neonates without was conducted.Results The frequency of early-onset neonatal bacterial sepsis was significantly higher in neonate with maternal antepartum fever than those without(4.9% vs 0.3%,P=0.001).Both maternal antepartum temperature ≥39℃ and maternal postpartum fever lasting several days was higher suggested the possibility of neonatal sepsis.Conclusions The neonates born with high risk factor of early-onset neonate bacterial sepsis require comprehensive lab evaluation including blood culture and uterine culture,clinical observation and aggressive treatment to decrease the mortality.