Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41299099›Full record

ArticleJournal of epidemiology and global health2025

Development and Validation of a Diagnostic Prediction Model for Neonatal Sepsis in a Low-Resource Setting, Ethiopia.

Nahom Worku Teshager, Miteku Andualem Limenih, Ayenew Molla Lakew, Destaye Shiferaw Alemu

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of epidemiology and global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Nahom Worku TeshagerDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. nahomarm@gmail.com.
Miteku Andualem LimenihDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Ayenew Molla LakewDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Destaye Shiferaw AlemuDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeonatal sepsis remains a major cause of preventable neonatal mortality globally, yet diagnosis remains difficult in low-resource settings due to the inaccessibility and the long turnaround time of blood culture. Clinical prediction models can support the early detection and management of sepsis.

objectiveTo develop and internally validate a diagnostic prediction model for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in a low-resource setting, Ethiopia.

methodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2024. We collected data through medical record review among 607 newborns with suspected sepsis. Predictors were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and then subjected to multivariable logistic regression. Model performance was assessed by discrimination and calibration. Ten-fold cross-validation was performed to assess the model's internal validity, and clinical utility was assessed by decision curve analysis. External validation was not performed. The R statistical software was used for data analysis.

resultsThe proportion of sepsis was 36.1% (95% CI: 32.3, 39.9). The final model incorporated maternal anemia, fever, antibiotic use during pregnancy, temperature abnormality, presence of a focus of infection, invasive procedure before admission, leukocytosis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The model demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.87(95% CI: 0.84, 0.90) and good calibration. The model achieved a sensitivity of 86.8%, specificity of 71.1%, negative predictive value of 90.5%, and a positive likelihood ratio of 3.0. The decision curve analysis showed a higher net benefit than the "treat-all" or "treat-none" strategies.

conclusionsWe developed a diagnostic prediction model for neonatal sepsis, demonstrating good discrimination, high sensitivity, and negative predictive value, with a modest positive likelihood ratio, reflecting its utility for ruling in or out sepsis. The model can be incorporated into routine neonatal care practices and quality improvement initiatives following external validation.

Indexed as

Neonatal SepsisCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMalePredictive Value of TestsAntimicrobial resistanceDiagnosisEthiopiaNeonatal mortalityPredictionSepsis

Identifiers

PMID41299099
PMCPMC12662916

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