Overview

• The nationwide observational study covered more than one million infants born in Sweden between 2012 and 2020.
• Across six regions, antibiotic treatment rates for suspected neonatal sepsis varied from 1.3% in eastern Sweden to 3.0% in western Sweden.
• Analysis at 37 hospitals showed first-week treatment rates ranging from 0.9% to 4.3%, despite national sepsis prevalence below 0.1%.
• Differences in treatment thresholds reflect local hospital policies, traditions and clinician decision-making.
• Published in Archives of Disease in Childhood – Fetal & Neonatal Edition, the study urges stricter stewardship and highlights exemplar low-use units to guide reductions.