Overview
Neonatal clinical infection refers to infections occurring in newborns, particularly low-birthweight infants, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. These infections can manifest as sepsis or invasive conditions like necrotizing enterocolitis, pneumonia, and meningitis 1.
Diagnosis
Primary outcomes include all-cause mortality, sepsis, and invasive infection (composite of necrotizing enterocolitis, pneumonia, meningitis, and other severe infections) 1.
Adverse events assessed include hypothermia and apnea 1.Management
Kangaroo care is a method for stabilizing preterm infants and protecting low-birthweight newborns from mortality 1.
Hospital-initiated kangaroo care is being evaluated for its role in preventing mortality, sepsis, and invasive infection in low-birthweight infants 1.Special Populations
Focus on low-birthweight infants (<2500 g) 1.Key Recommendations
Hospital-initiated kangaroo care may play a role in preventing mortality, sepsis, and invasive infection in low-birthweight infants 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
Kangaroo care has a well-established role in preterm infant stabilization 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
Kangaroo care is effective in protecting low-birthweight newborns from mortality 1. (Evidence: Moderate)References
1 Minotti C, Jost K, Aghlmandi S, Schlaeppi C, Sieswerda E, van Werkhoven CH et al.. All-cause mortality and infection-related outcomes of hospital-initiated kangaroo care versus conventional neonatal care for low-birthweight infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet. Child & adolescent health 2025. link00130-0)