Recommendations for research
The guideline committee has made the following recommendations for research.
Key recommendations for research
1 Risk factors for and clinical indicators of early-onset infection
What is the accuracy of clinical prediction models for early-onset neonatal infection in the UK and what is their effectiveness in guiding management in the baby? [2021]
What is the risk of early-onset neonatal infection with maternal obesity and how does this change with increasing body mass index? [2021]
For a short explanation of why the committee made these recommendations for research, see the rationale on risk factors for and clinical indicators of possible early-onset neonatal infection .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review D: maternal and neonatal risk factors.
2 Investigations for babies who may have early-onset infection
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of laboratory investigations used individually or in combination to exclude early-onset neonatal infection in babies receiving antibiotics for suspected infection? [2012]
3 Antibiotics for suspected early-onset neonatal infection
What is the optimal duration of treatment (course length) in babies who receive antibiotics for confirmed early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]
4 Risk factors for and clinical indicators of late-onset infection
What is the accuracy of new or existing clinical prediction models for late-onset neonatal infection in the UK and what is their effectiveness in guiding management:
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for babies already on a neonatal unit?
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for babies admitted from home? [2021]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on risk factors for and clinical indicators of possible late-onset infection .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review E: risk factors for late onset neonatal infection.
5 Antibiotics for suspected late-onset neonatal infection
What is the optimal antibiotic treatment regimen for suspected late-onset neonatal infection? [2021]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on antibiotics for late-onset neonatal infection .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review H: antibiotics.
Other recommendations for research
6 Impact of neonatal infection on the baby's family
What is the impact of neonatal infection on the health-related quality of life of the baby's family? [2021]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on women with prolonged prelabour rupture of membranes .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review C: timing of delivery.
7 Information and support
How does each step in the care pathway for prevention and treatment of early-onset neonatal infection impact on babies and their families? [2012]
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of information and support offered to parents and carers of babies who have received antibiotics for suspected or proven early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]
8 Intrapartum antibiotics
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of intrapartum antibiotics for women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid? [2021]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on intrapartum antibiotics .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review B: intrapartum antibiotics.
9 Antibiotics for suspected early-onset infection
What is the incidence in England and Wales of resistance to commonly used antibiotics among bacteria that cause early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]
What is the optimal antibiotic dosage regimen for the treatment of early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]
What is the incidence and severity of adverse effects with antibiotics used to prevent or treat early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]
What are the core exposures and outcomes that should be used to evaluate clinical effectiveness of antibiotics to prevent or treat early- onset neonatal infection? [2012]
10 Intravascular catheters for reducing the risk of late-onset neonatal infection
What is the effectiveness of antimicrobial-impregnated catheters other than those impregnated with rifampicin and miconazole for preventing late-onset catheter-related bloodstream infections in newborn babies? [2021]
What is the effectiveness of catheters impregnated with silver zeolite for preventing late-onset catheter-related bloodstream infections in newborn babies? [2021]
For a short explanation of why the committee made these recommendations for research, see the rationale on antibiotic-impregnated intravascular catheters for reducing the risk of late-onset neonatal infection .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review F: intravascular catheters.
11 Antifungals to prevent fungal infection during antibiotic treatment for late-onset neonatal infection
What is the optimum regimen (including treatment duration and dose) for using antifungals to prevent secondary fungal infection associated with antibiotic treatment for late-onset neonatal infection? [2021]
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale on antifungals to prevent fungal infection during antibiotic treatment for late-onset neonatal infection .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review I: antifungals.
12 Early and late-onset meningitis
What is the optimal antibiotic treatment regimen for early-onset neonatal meningitis? [2012]
13 Care setting
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of different models of care for the prevention and treatment of early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]
14 Long-term outcomes of bacterial meningitis
What are the long-term outcomes after bacterial meningitis in infancy? [2024]
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research and how it might affect practice, see the rationale section on identifying and managing complications .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review O: long-term complications and follow-up for bacterial meningitis.