Putative methods for prevention and treatment of neonatal septicemia.

The high mortality rate observed in newborn infants who contract bacterial sepsis within the first day of life has prompted investigators to seek new methods for the prevention and treatment of this disorder. Among the putative measures recommended for prevention are: administration of antimicrobials to all infants at the time of delivery, identification and treatment of pregnant women colonized with those bacteria known to be major neonatal pathogens and immunization of women to major neonatal pathogens. Three other measures, targeted at diminishing the mortality and morbidity in those in whom preventive measures fail, include: granulocyte transfusion, exchange transfusion and administration of antibody.