NICU

Neonatal Pneumonia

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Neonatal Pneumonia, Pneumonia in Newborn, Pneumonia in Infants under Age 1 Month

  • See Also
  1. Neonatal Chlamydia Pneumonia
  2. Pneumonia
  3. Pediatric Pneumonia
  4. Pneumonia Causes in Children
  5. Neonatal Respiratory Distress
  • Causes
  1. See Pneumonia Causes in Children
  2. Bacterial Pneumonia is most common cause of Pneumonia in Newborns
  3. Cause based on timing
    1. Congenital Pneumonia
      1. Maternal infection transmitted to fetus (via chorion or transplacental)
    2. Early onset Neonatal Pneumonia
      1. Onset in first 7 days after birth
      2. Vertical transmission from mother
    3. Late onset Neonatal Pneumonia
      1. Onset >7 days after birth
      2. Environmental exposure (including hospital acquired and Ventilator acquired)
  • Signs
  1. See Pediatric Pneumonia
  2. Neonatal Respiratory Distress (e.g. apnea, Tachypnea, grunting, Hypoxia, retractions)
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. See Neonatal Respiratory Distress
  2. See Neonatal Distress Causes
  • Labs
  1. See Neonatal Sepsis
  2. Blood Culture in all neontal Pneumonia cases
  1. Lung infiltrates
  2. Consolidation or cavitation may be present
  • Management
  1. See Pneumonia Management in Children
  2. See Neonatal Respiratory Distress
  3. See Neonatal Resuscitation
  4. Start empiric Antibiotic therapy in all suspected Neonatal Pneumonia cases
  5. Consider infectious disease Consultation
  • References
  1. Buel (2026) Am Fam Physician 113(1): 35-41 [PubMed]