Guide to a systematic physical assessment in the infant with suspected infection and/or sepsis

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Sepsis is a critical condition in infants, requiring prompt and accurate diagnosis.
• Early identification of neonatal sepsis is crucial for effective treatment and improved outcomes.
• Existing diagnostic approaches may not fully align with international consensus definitions for the sepsis continuum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide resources for bedside caregivers to perform a focused physical assessment of infants with suspected sepsis.
• To emphasize the importance of comprehensive history taking for identifying obstetric and neonatal risk factors.
• To guide the evaluation of clinical presentation and diagnostic data for differential diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic physical assessment guide for infants.
• Checklists for obstetric and neonatal history.
• Comparison of international consensus definitions with neonatal-specific definitions for sepsis.
• Strategies for integrating physical findings with diagnostic data.

Main Results:

• Provides a structured approach to infant sepsis assessment.
• Highlights key signs and symptoms of systemic inflammatory response.
• Offers tools for differential diagnosis in suspected neonatal sepsis cases.
• Clarifies sepsis continuum definitions for clinical application.

Conclusions:

• Effective sepsis management in infants relies on thorough history and systematic physical assessment.
• Utilizing standardized tools and definitions improves diagnostic accuracy.
• Caregivers are empowered with resources to identify and manage suspected neonatal sepsis.