Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32185682›Full record

ArticlePaediatric drugs2020

A Prospective Cohort Study of Factors Associated with Empiric Antibiotic De-escalation in Neonates Suspected with Early Onset Sepsis (EOS).

Nazedah Ain Ibrahim, Mohd Makmor Bakry, Nurul Ain Mohd Tahir, Nur Rashidah Mohd Zaini, Noraida Mohamed Shah

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Paediatric drugs, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. "Overview of Global Challenges in Dealing with Neonatal Sepsis and Responsibility of Healthcare Workers": A Narrative Review.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine · 2026
    Review
  2. Risk factors associated with extended spectrum beta lactamaseAntimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Nazedah Ain IbrahimCentre for Quality Management of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mohd Makmor BakryCentre for Quality Management of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nurul Ain Mohd TahirCentre for Quality Management of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nur Rashidah Mohd ZainiDepartment of Pediatrics, Hospital Shah Alam, Persiaran Kayangan, Seksyen 7, 40000, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Noraida Mohamed ShahCentre for Quality Management of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. noraida_mshah@ukm.edu.my.
National University of Malaysia · MYSultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital · MY

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProlonged empiric antibiotic use, resulting from diagnostic uncertainties, in suspected early onset sepsis (EOS) cases constitutes a significant problem. Unnecessary antibiotic use increases the risk of antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, prolonged antibiotic use increases the risk of mortality and morbidity in neonates. Proactive measures including empiric antibiotic de-escalation are crucial to overcome these problems.

methodsThis was a prospective cohort study conducted in the neonatal intensive care units of two public hospitals in Malaysia. Neonates with a gestational age greater than 34 weeks who were started on empiric antibiotics within 72 h of life were screened. The data were then stratified according to de-escalation and non-de-escalation practices, where de-escalation practice was defined as narrowing down or discontinuation of empiric antibiotic within 72 h of treatment.

resultsA total of 1045 neonates were screened, and 429 were included. The neonates were then divided based on de-escalation (n = 207) and non-de-escalation (n = 222) practices. Neonates under non-de-escalation practices showed significantly longer durations of antibiotic use compared to those under de-escalation practices (p < 0.05), with no difference in treatment outcomes. Five factors were found to be associated with de-escalation of antibiotics. They are cesarean section delivery, exposure to antenatal steroids, nil history of maternal pyrexia, absence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and normal C-reactive protein ≤ 0.5 mg/dL (p < 0.05).

conclusionsEmpiric antibiotic de-escalation appears feasible as a routine form of treatment for EOS in late preterm and term neonates.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsCohort StudiesFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornPregnancyProspective StudiesSepsisAnti-Bacterial Agents

Identifiers

PMID32185682
PMCPMC7222079
OpenAlexW3012546559

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.