Table 2.
Clinical presentation at the newborn unit for infants with early onset sepsis, by antibiotic treatment group; Guideline (n = 1172) and Non-Guideline (n = 354)
| Characteristics of cases | Guideline n (valid %) |
Non-guideline n (valid %) |
p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lethargy | 167 (19.2) | 39 (12.3) | < 0.01 |
| Tachypnoea (> 60 breaths per minute) | 357 (31.7) | 61 (17.9) | < 0.01 |
| Seizures | 41 (4.6) | 9 (2.8) | 0.18 |
| Grunting | 134 (14.8) | 13 (4.2) | < 0.01 |
| Apnoea | 19 (2.1) | 2 (0.7) | 0.13a |
| Fever (> 38 degrees Celsius) | 494 (44.4) | 120 (35.5) | < 0.01 |
| Hypothermia (< 35.5 degrees Celsius) | 9 (0.9) | 4 (1.2) | 0.75a |
| Severe chest indrawing | 27 (3.1) | 3 (1.0) | 0.06a |
| Central cyanosis | 31 (3.5) | 3 (0.9) | 0.02a |
| Severe jaundice (palms and soles yellow) | 14 (1.66) | 4 (1.26) | 0.79 |
aFisher exact test