Short-course empiric antibiotic therapy for possible early-onset sepsis in the NICU.

Objective: On 2/2019, the Neonatal Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital recommended reducing empirical antibiotic therapy for early-onset sepsis (EOS) from 48 to 24 hours with a TIME-OUT. We describe our experience with this guideline and assess its safety.

Methods: Retrospective review of newborns evaluated for possible EOS at 6 NICUs from 12/2018-7/2019.