It’s Not Always Sepsis; Fatal Tachypnea in a Newborn

Case Report: A nine day old term male presented to the pediatric emergency room (ER) with isolated tachypnea without fever or upper respiratory symptoms. Full sepsis protocol was initiated and neonate was treated with broad spectrum antibiotics and acyclovir, after obtaining pan-cultures. Chest X-ray was normal. For worsening tachypnea infant was placed on CPAP for respiratory support. Neonate was admitted to the PICU and subsequently noted to have weak femoral pulses. Lower limb blood pressures at that time were undetectable. Ten hours post initial presentation to the ER, Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was started in …