title: Sepsis in the neonate.
abstract: In the neonatal intensive care unit, critical care nurses who are not advanced practice nurses cannot make the medical diagnosis of infection/sepsis in the neonate. Even so, the critical care nurse has a critical role in dealing with sepsis infection. The nurse must (1) have a high index of suspicion about the risk of infection, (2) be able to recognize septic/infected newborns, (3) report related concerns to the physician or advanced practice nurse, and (4) advocate on behalf of the infant to ensure a timely diagnostic workup and empiric antibiotics. This article is a guide for understanding issues related to sepsis in the neonatal intensive care unit.
authors.affiliation: gardnerslconsult@aol.com
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents