Infectious Diseases of the Newborn Infant

Abstract

Numerous microorganisms may infect and cause disease in newborns.

Occasionally, bacterial infection leads to neonatal sepsis, in which the vague clinical signs complicate diagnosis.

Most clinically important congenital infections are caused by viruses. Infections in which viruses have been recovered include a condition similar to toxoplasmosis, diarrhea, disease due to the Coxsackie group B viruses, and a type of hepatitis.

The epidemic stuffy, nose syndrome in premature infants appears to be caused by the interaction of a virus and a bacterium. Physicians must be familiar with the manifestations of infection in newborns in order to institute diagnostic studies and therapy immediately.