info@newbornsepsis.org Advancing Neonatal Care Worldwide

Clinical Practice Guidelines

Evidence-based recommendations developed by international expert panels to standardise and improve neonatal sepsis care worldwide.

How to cite: When referencing NSS guidelines, please cite as: Newborn Sepsis Society Clinical Practice Guidelines [Title], [Year]. Available at newbornsepsissociety.org/education/guidelines

Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis (EOS)

Updated 2025
Version 3.0 · March 2025 Lead: Prof. E. Vasquez, Dr. S. Mitchell

Comprehensive recommendations for the prevention, risk assessment, diagnosis, and empiric management of EOS in term and preterm neonates. Includes the updated NSS EOS Risk Calculator and biomarker-guided decision algorithms.

Late-Onset Neonatal Sepsis (LOS)

Updated 2025
Version 2.0 · March 2025 Lead: Prof. J. Ochieng, Prof. R. Sharma

Guidelines for the evaluation and management of LOS in hospitalised neonates, with a focus on CoNS bacteraemia decision-making, catheter-related infections, and duration of therapy based on organism and clinical response.

Antimicrobial Stewardship in the NICU

2024
Version 1.0 · June 2024 Lead: Dr. A. Lindgren, Dr. M. Chen

Practical framework for implementing antimicrobial stewardship in neonatal units, including empiric regimen selection, duration optimisation, IV-to-oral switch criteria, and audit tools.

Infection Prevention in the NICU

2023
Version 1.0 · September 2023 Lead: Dr. F. Al-Rashid, Prof. M. Santos

Evidence-based recommendations for hand hygiene, central line bundles, environmental cleaning, visitor policies, and outbreak management in neonatal intensive care settings.

Biomarkers for Neonatal Sepsis: Consensus Statement

New 2025
Version 1.0 · January 2025 Lead: Prof. Y. Tanaka, Prof. E. Vasquez

Consensus statement on the clinical utility of CRP, PCT, IL-6, presepsin, and novel host-response biomarker panels in the diagnosis and monitoring of neonatal sepsis.

Our Guideline Development Process

All NSS guidelines follow a transparent, GRADE-based methodology.

Step 1

Scope & Panel Formation

Define clinical questions using PICO framework. Assemble a multidisciplinary panel with geographic diversity and patient/family representation.

Step 2

Systematic Evidence Review

Comprehensive literature search, quality assessment, and evidence synthesis using GRADE methodology.

Step 3

Consensus & Drafting

Modified Delphi process to reach consensus on recommendations. Draft guideline document with strength of evidence ratings.

Step 4

External Review & Publication

Open consultation period with membership and external stakeholders. Peer review, finalisation, and publication.