Definitions used to categorise NeoOBS-SA HAI episodes
| 1. Any HAI | |
| Infections occurring after 72 hours of admission, including the following | |
| a. Proven HAI | Infants with a positive culture isolating a pathogen from a sterile site (blood, cerebrospinal fluid), together with clinical signs and/or symptoms of infection. |
| b. Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) | Laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection, not related to an infection from another site, that develops 48 hours after the placement of a central line or within 48 hours of its removal.39 |
| c. Presumed HAI | Infants with clinical signs and/or symptoms of infection in the presence of a CRP ≥10 mg/L and negative blood cultures, where antimicrobial treatment was continued for ≥5 days. |
| 2. No HAI | |
| Infants with signs and/or symptoms of possible infection but no objective confirmation of sepsis, ie, negative microbiological cultures, CRP <10 mg/L and discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy within 48–72 hours of initiation. | |
HAI, healthcare-associated infection; NeoOBS, Neonatal Sepsis Observational study.