External validation of bedside prediction score for diagnosis of late-onset neonatal sepsis.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively validate performance of a prediction score for diagnosis of late-onset neonatal sepsis (LNS) in a new patient population.


METHODS
Data were prospectively collected from March 2003 to May 2004. Newborns were enrolled if they were in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 2 and 90 days, and during the first episode of clinical sepsis suspected. LNS was defined as a positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, which became the criterion standard.


RESULTS
A total of 105 neonates were evaluated for sepsis. Demographic characteristics were as follows: (mean (s.d.)) were gestational age (GA) 29 (3) weeks; birth weight (BW) 1232 (620) g and postnatal age 17.5 day (12). Thirty-five (33%) neonates had LNS (35 positive blood cultures; 2 positive CSF). No significant differences in GA, BW, gender, age and central line utilization were found between LNS positive and LNS negative groups. Using a cut-off score of < or = 3, the score predicted positive culture with sensitivity of 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.85, 0.99) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.07. The discrimination and calibration ability of LNS score was acceptable.


CONCLUSIONS
A simple clinical decision rule previously developed to predict LNS performs equally in an independent population and NICU.
Okascharoen
C
C
Division of Infectious Disease and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Hui
C
C
Cairnie
J
J
Morris
A M
AM
Kirpalani
H
H
D000367:Age Factors; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis*