International Perspectives: Preventing Sepsis in VLBW Infants: Experience from Neonatal Networks and Voluntary Surveillance Systems

Hospital-acquired infections cause significant mortality and morbidity in preterm infants and increase the length of stay and costs. Differences in the quality of care may be at least partially responsible for the substantial variability seen in the incidence of such infections among different institutions. Various quality assurance programs within neonatal networks around the world target these infections, aiming to reduce their incidence. Comprehensive surveillance programs seem to be effective, especially if educational activities are added on local and network levels, and may help to save lives.