Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs decrease antibiotic initiation at birth

Article

ASP treatment lowered the presence of sepsis risk factors in preterm infants.

Neonatal Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) can decrease antibiotic initiation at birth, according to a recent study published by the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

Early-onset sepsis is a condition which leads to greater chances of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. ASPs are put into place for high-risk infants to mediate the adverse effects of antibiotic exposure with the need for empiric treatment.

In the study, preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 34 weeks were reviewed 6 months after ASP was implemented. The review consisted of comparisons for the presence of perinatal sepsis risk factors, along with the effectiveness of initial empiric antibiotics treatment.

There were 479 infants involved in the study, with an average gestational age of 30 weeks and a birth weight of 1400 g.

In the pre-ASP infants, there was a 73.6% presence of sepsis risk factors, while post-ASP infants had a 68.4% presence of sepsis risk factors. Initial antibiotics were not given to 42% of infants despite risk factors, while 20% did not have perinatal sepsis risk factors and were not treated.

Investigators encouraged neonatal ASP teams to think about the dangers of antibiotic use.

Reference

Stritzke A, Tierney A, Keister F, Srivastava A, Dersch-Mills D, Hamilton C. Antimicrobialstewardship at birth in preterm infants. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2022;41(5)394-400. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000003462


This article originally appeared on Contemporary Pediatrics®.

Newsletter

Get the latest clinical updates, case studies, and expert commentary in obstetric and gynecologic care. Sign up now to stay informed.

Recent Videos
Eran Bornstein, MD, highlights early signs of preeclampsia clinicians need to know | Image Credit: northwell.edu.
Eran Bornstein, MD explains the need for first trimester preeclampsia screening | Image Credit: northwell.edu.
Veerle Bergink, MD, PhD, highlights familial links of postpartum psychosis | Image Credit: profiles.mountsinai.org.
Ivie Odiase, MD
Amy Valent DO, MCR, highlights new tech for prenatal diabetes management | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Johanna Finkle, MD, weight loss specialist, OB/GYN, The University of Kansas Health System.
Laxmi Gannu, MD, notes PPD screening gaps and adverse outcomes | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Farah Amro, MD
Laurence Shields, MD, is System Physician Vice President at the Women and Infants Clinical Institute with CommonSpirit Health in Santa Maria, California.
Joy Baker, MD, FACOG, highlights how to recognize PPD | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.