Antibiotics By Diagnosis (Peds)

Bugs & Drugs

Neonatal Infections

NOTE: All doses listed below are for patients >2 kg and at least 7 days of age

Any infant who has tachycardia out of proportion to fever or HR >180 in any age group has a serious bacterial infection (SBI) until proven otherwise. Other serious risk factors include lethargy, hyperventiliation, cyanosis, poor perfusion and hypotonia. Have a high suspicion and treat accordingly. Always treat for meningitis until you are sure it is not. Note that bacterial etiology and antimicrobial therapies are similar for all neonatal illnesses.

Fever of Uncertain Source (FUS)	Neonatal (0-30 days): GBS, E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Listeria or S. aureus (rare)	Send blood, urine and CSF cultures. Listeria, while infrequent at CCHMC, may sporadically occur in clustered cases. Ampicillin 200 mg/kg/day (if >2 kg) IV div Q6 AND Cefotaxime 200 mg/kg/day IV div Q6. Ampicillin 200 mg/kg/day (if >2 kg) IV div Q6 AND Gentamicin 3.5 mg/kg/day IV Q24. Consider risk factors for neonatal HSV disease. Test and treat accordingly.
Fever of Uncertain Source (FUS)	Neonatal (30-60 days): See above.	Workup: Blood and urine specimen. If low-risk (non-ill appearing), normal blood and urine analyses, parents and PMD okay, consider no LP, no antibiotics, and discharge home with f/u in 12-24 hours. Otherwise, LP + Abx. Cefotaxime 200 mg/kg/day IV div Q6 or Ceftriaxone1 100 mg/kg/day IV div Q12. If evidence of UTI or severly ill infant, add Ampicillin.
Meningitis	Preterm to 60 days: GBS (49%), E. coli (18%), Listeria (7%), misc GN's, GP's	Ampicillin 400 mg/kg/day (if >2 kg) IV div Q6 (if >7 days) AND Cefotaxime 200 mg/kg/day IV div Q6 (if >7 days) Ampicillin 400 mg/kg/day (if >2 kg) IV div Q6 (if >7 days) AND Gentamicin 4 mg/kg/day IV Q24. If GBS meningitis, treat 21 days. If GN meningitis, treat 21 days (and >14 days after CSF sterilizes). Tailor therapy when specific etiology known