Risk factors for neonatal sepsis in the intensive care unit: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE

To map the scientific studies investigating risk factors associated with the occurrence of neonatal sepsis in intensive care units.

METHOD: This scoping review followed the JBI Collaboration methodology, with searches conducted in nine databases, two sources of grey literature, and backward searching. Data were collected in September 2024 and updated in January 2025. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and the use of the IraMuTeQ® software.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies were included, with a predominance of publications from Brazil (75%) and Ethiopia (20.8%). The most frequent risk factors were prematurity (f = 20), low birth weight (f = 16), use of invasive devices (f = 15), urinary infection (f = 12), Apgar score (f = 11), and colonization by Streptococcus agalactiae group B (f = 11).

CONCLUSION

The scientific literature on risk factors for neonatal sepsis in neonatal intensive care units was mapped, showing that the available evidence addresses multiple maternal, neonatal, and care-related determinants, but is concentrated in few contexts and is predominantly based on observational study designs.