title: Controversies in neonatal infection.
abstract: Antibiotics are an important part of neonatal care, but we must be careful that a short-sighted approach to their use does not magnify the problems they are designed to prevent. Prevention of infections by good infection control practices and minimizing risk factors for sepsis is just as important as appropriate antibiotic use. Attempts to eradicate colonizing organisms of low virulence may result in their replacement by more problematic organisms, so over-vigorous use of antibiotics to try to prevent infections is not always wise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: M L A
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isaacs
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003030:Coagulase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control; D009181:Mycoses / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003030:Coagulase