Recommendations for research

The guideline committee has made the following recommendations for research.

Key recommendations for research

Risk factors for and clinical indicators of early-onset infection

What is the accuracy of clinical prediction models for early-onset neonatal infection in the UK and what is their effectiveness in guiding management in the baby? [2021]

What is the risk of early-onset neonatal infection with maternal obesity and how does this change with increasing body mass index? [2021]

For a short explanation of why the committee made these recommendations for research, see the rationale on risk factors for and clinical indicators of possible early-onset neonatal infection.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review D: maternal and neonatal risk factors.

Investigations for babies who may have early-onset infection

What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of laboratory investigations used individually or in combination to exclude early-onset neonatal infection in babies receiving antibiotics for suspected infection? [2012]

Antibiotics for suspected early-onset neonatal infection

What is the optimal duration of treatment (course length) in babies who receive antibiotics for confirmed early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]

Risk factors for and clinical indicators of late-onset infection

What is the accuracy of new or existing clinical prediction models for late-onset neonatal infection in the UK and what is their effectiveness in guiding management:

  • for babies already on a neonatal unit?

  • for babies admitted from home? [2021]

For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on risk factors for and clinical indicators of possible late-onset infection.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review E: risk factors for late onset.

Antibiotics for suspected late-onset neonatal infection

What is the optimal antibiotic treatment regimen for suspected late-onset neonatal infection? [2021]

For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on antibiotics for late-onset neonatal infection.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review H: antibiotics.

Impact of neonatal infection on the baby's family

What is the impact of neonatal infection on the health-related quality of life of the baby's family? [2021]

For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on women with prolonged prelabour rupture of membranes.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review C: timing of delivery.

Other recommendations for research

Information and support

How does each step in the care pathway for prevention and treatment of early-onset neonatal infection impact on babies and their families? [2012]

What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of information and support offered to parents and carers of babies who have received antibiotics for suspected or proven early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]

Intrapartum antibiotics

What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of intrapartum antibiotics for women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid? [2021]

For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on intrapartum antibiotics.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review B: intrapartum antibiotics.

Antibiotics for suspected early-onset infection

What is the incidence in England and Wales of resistance to commonly used antibiotics among bacteria that cause early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]

What is the optimal antibiotic dosage regimen for the treatment of early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]

What is the incidence and severity of adverse effects with antibiotics used to prevent or treat early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]

What are the core exposures and outcomes that should be used to evaluate clinical effectiveness of antibiotics to prevent or treat early- onset neonatal infection? [2012]

Intravascular catheters for reducing the risk of late-onset neonatal infection

What is the effectiveness of antimicrobial-impregnated catheters other than those impregnated with rifampicin and miconazole for preventing late-onset catheter-related bloodstream infections in newborn babies? [2021]

What is the effectiveness of catheters impregnated with silver zeolite for preventing late-onset catheter-related bloodstream infections in newborn babies? [2021]

For a short explanation of why the committee made these recommendations for research, see rationale on antibiotic-impregnated intravascular catheters for reducing the risk of late-onset neonatal infection.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review F: intravascular catheters.

Antifungals to prevent fungal infection during antibiotic treatment for late-onset neonatal infection

What is the optimum regimen (including treatment duration and dose) for using antifungals to prevent secondary fungal infection associated with antibiotic treatment for late-onset neonatal infection? [2021]

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale on antifungals to prevent fungal infection during antibiotic treatment for late-onset neonatal infection.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review I: antifungals.

Early and late-onset meningitis

What is the optimal antibiotic treatment regimen for early-onset neonatal meningitis? [2012]

Care setting

What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of different models of care for the prevention and treatment of early-onset neonatal infection? [2012]

Long-term outcomes of bacterial meningitis

What are the long-term outcomes after bacterial meningitis in infancy? [2024]

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research and how it might affect practice, see the rationale section on identifying and managing complications.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review O: long-term complications and follow-up for bacterial meningitis.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)