The neonIN surveillance network captures data on episodes of invasive neonatal infection on a web-based database (www.neonin.org.uk). Over 25 UK neonatal units currently contribute to this database in real-time. An episode of neonatal infection is defined as a positive culture collected from a normally sterile site such as the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or urine (via catheter or suprapubic aspirate) for which clinicians prescribed at least five days of appropriate antibiotics. Clinical, demographic and microbiological data (including antimicrobial susceptibilities) are collected using a standardised online questionnaire, and denominator data regarding the total number of live-births and neonatal-admissions are collected for each neonatal unit.
NeonIN is a is a neonatal infection surveillance database which will facilitate active surveillance for bacterial infections through a network of neonatal units, using standardised definitions, proformas and microbiological techniques. The centralised and secure web-based database will allow real-time entry of data and rapid and timely analysis of results.