Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
Management of term newborns following maternal intrapartum fever
Nehama Linder1, Elena Fridman, Ayman Makhoul
1Department of Neonatology, Helen Schneider's Hospital for Women Rabin Medical Center, PetachTikva, Israel.
Objective:
To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to full term neonates born to mothers with intrapartum fever.
Methods:
In a retrospective study, neonates born to mothers with intrapartum fever, (≥ 37.8°C), were compared to control group matched by gestational age and birthweight.
Results:
Overall, 159 singleton full term neonates born to women with intrapartum fever (study group) were compared to 159 control infants. No differences in neonatal outcomes were found between the two groups except for a higher rate of meconium-stained amniotic fluid in the maternal-fever group. There were no cases of neonatal infection, severe neonatal morbidity, or neonatal mortality in either of the groups. Full sepsis workup and intravenous antibiotic treatment were provided to 17.6% of the neonates in the study group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that delivery by Cesarean section was the only factor independently associated with the decision to perform a full sepsis work up and antibiotic treatment in cases of maternal intrapartum fever (OR 32.0, 95% CI 9.4-112.1).
Conclusions:
In low-risk women with asymptomatic intrapartum fever, neonatal infection is uncommon, so that aggressive evaluation and management of these infants may not be necessary and should be balanced against the low risk of neonatal sepsis.
Related Concept Videos
Methods of reducing fever
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Increased Body Temperature
Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.