sepsis workup


sepsis workup

A colloquial term for the evaluation of a patient, esp. a neonate, with a fever, for laboratory evidence of severe infection. Common tests for febrile neonates include a complete blood count; blood cultures, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and stool samples; and chest x-ray. Most neonates with a fever are given immediate treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics pending the results of cultures. See also: workup