title: [Use of lumbar puncture in the evaluation of late-onset sepsis in low birth weight neonates].
abstract: The objective of this study was to analyze the use of lumbar punctures (LP) in the evaluation of late-onset neonatal sepsis. It is recommended to perform an LP as part of the evaluation of late-onset sepsis. We used a cohort of 414 newborns with a birth weight <2000g in three hospitals in Lima. A LP was performed in 45/214 (21.0%) of sepsis evaluations and in 13/48 (27.1%) of culture-proven sepsis. Meningitis was diagnosed in 8/214 (3.7%) of the episodes and 8/45 (17.5%) of the evaluations that included an LP. The duration of treatment of the sepsis episodes without a LP and the episodes with a negative LP was similar, and shorter than the episodes with a positive LP. The use of LP in the evaluation of late-onset sepsis is low and can result in undiagnosed and undertreated meningitis. The use of LP in the evaluation of neonatal sepsis must be encouraged in the neonatal units.
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zea-Vera
authors.forename: Christie Gloria
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Turín
authors.forename: María Susana
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guillén-Pinto
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Medina-Alva
authors.forename: Aldredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tori
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zegarra
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cam
authors.forename: Theresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ochoa
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013129:Spinal Puncture