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Controversies in Neonatal Sepsis: Immunomodulation in the Treatment and Prevention of Neonatal Sepsis

  • Conference paper
Hot Topics in Infection and Immunity in Children III

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 582))

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6. Conclusion

Whilst the concept of replacing the neonatal immunological deficit to prevent or treat systemic sepsis is theoretically attractive, the results from clinical trials performed to date are perhaps less dramatic than expected. The reasons for this are likely to be multifactorial, but include the recruitment of low risk infants who are not septic or neutropenic, and use of inappropriate immunoglobulin preparations that contains little or no antibody effective against pathogens causing neonatal sepsis. There may well be cheaper, more effective, but less glamorous, methods of preventing infection in the preterm infant. There is accumulating evidence regarding the role of prophylactic broad spectrum antibiotics on neonatal gut flora and the influence of early enteral feeding with a correct milk formula can have on encouraging “friendly” gut bacteria. The role of growth factors and immunoglobulin preparations in the treatment and prophylaxis of neonatal sepsis has not yet been established and these products should only be used in the context of large randomised controlled clinical trials until there is clear evidence of benefit (or absence of benefit) in their use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neonatal Department, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK

    Dr Samantha J. Moss

  2. Paediatric Immunology Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK

    Dr Andrew R. Gennery

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  1. Dr Samantha J. Moss
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Oxford, Level 4, John Radclif Hospital, Oxford, UK, OX3 9DU

    Andrew J. Pollard

  2. University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, UK, B58 1TH

    Adam Finn

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Moss, S.J., Gennery, A.R. (2006). Controversies in Neonatal Sepsis: Immunomodulation in the Treatment and Prevention of Neonatal Sepsis. In: Pollard, A.J., Finn, A. (eds) Hot Topics in Infection and Immunity in Children III. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 582. Springer, Boston, MA . https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-33026-7_7

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