Incidence of sepsis in neonates with clinical respiratory distress

Respiratory distress is the most frequent symptom initiating referral to neonatal intensive care centers. Previous reports have indicated that 40% of infants with sepsis proved by blood culture had respiratory symptoms as their clinical presentation. In this prospective study there were 145 consecutive infants referred because of respiratory distress. Two-site blood cultures were collated with all other clinical and laboratory data to confirm a diagnosis of septicemia. There was a 4.8% incidence of bacteremia, and clinical and laboratory parameters confirmed septicemia in 3.5% of infants studied. Sixty percent of these infants had group B streptococcal sepsis, and 80% had leukopenia. The low incidence of confirmed septicemia in infants referred because of respiratory distress suggests that antibiotic therapy should not be routine.