Implementation of a clinical guideline to decrease laboratory tests in newborns evaluated for early onset sepsis

J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 2019;12(4):443-448. doi: 10.3233/NPM-180181.

Abstract

Background: Creation of a clinical guideline to reduce the number of complete blood counts (CBCs) obtained on healthy term infants for early onset sepsis (EOS) evaluation secondary to maternal chorioamnionitis.

Methods: A clinical guideline was introduced at four neonatal intensive care units (NICU) to reduce laboratory tests during EOS evaluation. Measures include frequency and timing of CBCs, culture negative sepsis, length of stay, and readmission rate.

Results: Mean number of CBCs per patient significantly decreased (2.31±0.62 versus 1.52±0.65) without increasing trends for patients with culture negative sepsis, length of stay, or re-admission.

Conclusion: The clinical guideline demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of CBCs obtained in well-appearing infants admitted to the NICU secondary to maternal chorioamnionitis.

Keywords: Early onset sepsis; chorioamnionitis; complete cell count; neonate.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asymptomatic Infections
  • Blood Cell Count / statistics & numerical data*
  • Chorioamnionitis / blood*
  • Chorioamnionitis / drug therapy
  • Chorioamnionitis / physiopathology
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Female
  • Guideline Adherence*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Neonatal Sepsis / blood*
  • Neonatal Sepsis / drug therapy
  • Neonatal Sepsis / physiopathology
  • Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Assessment

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents