RESUMO
INTRODUCTION Early onset sepsis is difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms and a lack ofreliable tests. It can progress quickly, and lead to neurodevelopmental consequences or be fatal if nottreated. However, approximately 10-fold more newborns are treated with antibiotics empirically and oftenunnecessarily. This study aimed to compare the management recommendations of the Neonatal EarlyOnset Sepsis Calculator with those of the Centers for Disease Control/American Academy of Pediatricsguidelines.METHODS Neonatal Early Onset Sepsis Calculator was applied to the data set to examine how an alternativemodel would perform compared to current guidelines published by the CDC and compared to currentpractice within the institution. Chi square and kappa value agreement was used to determine the differencebetween treatment recommendations of NEOS calculator and AAP guideline.RESULTS Of the 330 patients who received therapy, only 14.2% were recommended empiric antibiotics bythe EOS calculator, compared to the 39% recommended by the CDC guidelines (p Eleven patients were identified to have culture-positive sepsis.CONCLUSION The number of infants suspected with EOS and subsequently require antibiotic use at birthmay be dramatically reduced with the use of the neonatal EOS calculator.