Neonatal and pediatric sepsis: Microbiological insights, diagnostic innovations, and antimicrobial challenges

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Neonatal and pediatric sepsis significantly contribute to global child morbidity and mortality.
• Distinct clinical and microbiological features necessitate specialized approaches for neonates and children.
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and evolving pathogens complicate sepsis management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the changing microbiological landscape of neonatal and pediatric sepsis.
• To explore advancements in diagnostic tools and their implementation challenges.
• To discuss the impact of AMR and therapeutic hurdles in pediatric sepsis.

Main Methods:

• Mini-review of current literature on neonatal and pediatric sepsis.
• Analysis of emerging pathogens and diagnostic innovations (e.g., molecular diagnostics, AI).
• Examination of antimicrobial resistance trends and treatment challenges.

Main Results:

• Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli and fungi are increasingly prevalent.
• Molecular diagnostics and AI-integrated tools offer improved pathogen detection and resistance profiling.
• Implementation gaps in diagnostics and limited pediatric data on antimicrobials persist, especially in low-resource settings.

Conclusions:

• An integrated strategy involving surveillance, rapid diagnostics, and antimicrobial stewardship is vital.
• Addressing implementation gaps and optimizing treatments for resource-limited settings are crucial for improving sepsis outcomes.
• Continued research into context-specific diagnostic tools and pediatric treatment strategies is essential.