Guidelines
Neonatal Meningitis

Neonatal Meningitis

Lumbar Puncture

Should be considered in neonates with any signs of sepsis

Can be omitted safely in asymptomatic babies, with only perinatal risk factors, who are being evaluated for early onset sepsis

  • Do not perform a repeat LP in neonates who are receiving antibiotic treatment that the causative organism is susceptible to and who are making good clinical recovery
  • Do not perform a repeat LP before stopping antibiotic treatment in neonates who are clinically well
  • Perform a repeat LP in neonates who have persistent or re-emergent pyrexia, clinical deterioration, new clinical findings (especially neurological findings), or persistently abnormal inflammatory markers