Quality standard
Quality statements
Quality statements
Statement 1 Pregnant women and pregnant people whose babies are at risk of early-onset neonatal infection are offered intrapartum antibiotics and given the first dose within 1 hour of the decision to treat. [2014, updated 2024]
Statement 2 Newborn babies are assessed for the risk factors and clinical indicators of early-onset neonatal infection. [2014, updated 2024]
Statement 3 Neonates who need intravenous antibiotic treatment for suspected neonatal infection receive it within 1 hour of the decision to treat. [2014, updated 2024]
Statement 4 Neonates who start intravenous antibiotic treatment for suspected neonatal infection have their need for it reassessed at 36 hours for early-onset or at 48 hours for late-onset. [2014, updated 2024]
Statement 5 Parents or carers of babies that have or have had risk factors for neonatal infection, or whose baby has received intravenous antibiotics, are given verbal and written information about neonatal infection before transfer to community care, before the midwife leaves after a home birth or before discharge. [2014, updated 2024]
In 2024 this quality standard was updated, and statements prioritised in 2014 were updated [2014, updated 2024]. For more information, see update information.
The previous version of the quality standard for neonatal infection is available as a pdf.