Sepsis and Neonatal Acute Kidney Injury

Although the neonatal period is only the first 28 days of life, it accounts globally for in excess of 40% of deaths of children younger than 5 years of age. Sepsis is an important contributor to this burden of neonatal death as well as disease. Sepsis is in addition a leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in neonates. Neonatal AKI independently contributes toward mortality and morbidity with neonates dying because of AKI. The neonates' response to sepsis and AKI is complicated by hemodynamic instability from cardiac and intrapulmonary shunts as well as immature renal function. This review article will examine the at-risk neonatal populations, causes of and risk factors for neonatal sepsis, pathophysiology, fluid overload, prevention, and global perspectives.