Treating Infections in the Newborn

Abstract

Newborns with severe infections may die quickly, and physicians usually must start treatment before they confirm the diagnosis or isolate the organism. If Escherichia coli or Klebsiella infection is suspected, start aqueous penicillin G and kanamycin. If a Pseudomonas infection seems probable, use polymyxin B sulfate. The same drugs are effective against organisms causing severe pneumonias, but in staphylococcal pneumonia, intramuscular bacitracin works best.