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Early-onset sepsis

Sepsis in a newborn within the first 72 hours of life, with late-onset sepsis beginning at 72 hours; some definitions extend early onset to 7 days.

Also called: early-onset infection, early-onset neonatal infection, early-onset neonatal sepsis

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Card id: early-onset-sepsis

Sources

  • NICE. Neonatal infection: antibiotics for prevention and treatment (NG195). Terms used in this guideline. 2021, updated 2026. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng195/chapter/Terms-used-in-this-guideline
  • Harrison ML, et al. Beyond early- and late-onset neonatal sepsis definitions. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2024. https://journals.lww.com/pidj/fulltext/2024/12000/beyond_early__and_late_onset_neonatal_sepsis.15.aspx

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