Antibiotic therapy of the newborn

The bacteria infecting newborn babies have changed over the last few decades and vary from place to place. Each neonatal unit must therefore make its own choice of antibiotics to attack the local pathogens. This choice must be reconsidered regularly because of the continuing change in pathogens, such as the recent problems encountered with Staphylococcus epidermidis. The newer beta-lactam antibiotics, especially the third-generation cephalosporins, are proving useful in the treatment of neonatal infections.