Lucia Lúčanová1, Peter Bánovčin2, Katarína Maťašová1
Sepsis remains the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The main risk factor of early-onset infection is maternal colonization due to Group B Streptococcus. Intrapartal prophylaxis is today’s gold standard. Early-onset infections mostly manifest as fulminant septic disease. Their clinical signs are non-specific. If early-onset sepsis is suspected, it is necessary to take blood for hemoculture and start empirical antibiotic treatment using ampicilin and gentamicin immediately. It is often possible to terminate empirical therapy as soon as after 48-72 hours. Care of the newborn of a mother with colonization depends on prophylaxis in mother, gestational age of the neonate and presence of risk factors. It is obvious to make early-onset infections prevention more effective. It is important to minimalize treatment of asymptomatic neonates and to reduce duration of antibiotic treatment.