Infection is a major cause of mortality and morbidity within neonatal units with 20% of very low birth weight infants having at least 1 episode of late onset sepsis.  I will discuss the risk factors associated with the increased infection rate and the environmental and infant measures that can be taken to reduce neonatal sepsis and the challenges in achieving this.

Dr Elizabeth Pilling, Consultant Neonatologist, Yorkshire and Humber Neonatal ODN Clinical Lead