The Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis Calculator and Its Impact at a Single Center: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine whether usage of the Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis (EOS) Calculator decreases sepsis evaluations, antibiotic administration, length of stay (LOS), and resource utilization when caring for newborns whose mothers were diagnosed with confirmed chorioamnionitis (CAM). Study Design: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 236 dyads of mothers and newborns (= 35 weeks gestation). De-identified data, including newborn antibiotic usage, complete blood counts (CBC), blood cultures, and LOS, were collected one year before and after the 2019 implementation of the EOS calculator. To summarize the data for all study variables, descriptive statistics were utilized. All categorical variables were compared using the Fisher exact or X2 test, and the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test was applied for continuous variables. Results: A significant reduction was seen in the incidence of sepsis evaluations (P < 0.001) and antibiotic use (P < 0.001) after the implementation of the EOS calculator. An Arizona Medicare reimbursement rate estimation revealed that the median expense of EOS-related care decreased by $257.89 in infants whose mothers were diagnosed with confirmed CAM (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The frequency of sepsis evaluations and antibiotic utilization in newborns of mothers diagnosed with confirmed CAM was significantly reduced with the use of the EOS calculator, resulting in decreased resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]