Septicemia in the newborn due to gram-negative bacilli

✍ Scribed by U. Töllner; F. Pohlandt

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 655 KB
• Volume: 123
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0340-6997
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00444646

✦ Synopsis

The case histories of 17 newborns developing septic shock due to gram-negative ~ bacilli were studied for pre-and perinatal risk factors, clinical symptoms, and hematologic changes.

Immaturity, resuscitation procedures, and hypothermia on admission were found to be the risk factors most frequently preceding septicemia. A skin color fading and changing from reddish-pink to yellow-green was the most early noticeable clinical symptom in all patients. The total leukocyte counts as well as the relative proportion Of bands increased significantly at the onset of illness. When septicemia advanced, a marked drop of leukoeytes was found, while the relative proportion of bands increased further. Only 1 in 12 cases showed a decrease in the platelct counts at the height of septicemia.

A procedure for the early diagnosis of a neonatal septicemia is proposed: (1) Registration of perinatal risk factors. ( 2) With perinatal risk factors a skilled and at~ntive clinical observation is necessary. Particular attention should be paid to changes of skin color. (3) White blood cell picture: (a) every day in patients with perinatal risk factors and (b) every 6 h in patients showing suspicious symptoms.