Inclusion criteria
Human neonates (aged <28 days of life or hospitalised to a neonatal unit) being evaluated for neonatal sepsis (as defined by the individual studies).
Studies examining a range of patient ages will be included, providing sufficient data are available to examine findings for neonates in isolation.
Studies that develop, validate or assess the impact of a clinical prediction model to diagnose neonatal sepsis.
Studies that report any of:
modelling methods (including participants, predictors, outcomes and type of model).
model performance (including sensitivity and specificity).
success of implementation (including acceptability and any changes to practice or outcomes).
Only internally and/or externally validated models will be included.
Management algorithms, decision rules or prediction models based on expert opinion will not be included unless validated in a subsequent study.
Studies evaluating prognostic models (eg, to predict neonatal sepsis-related mortality or morbidity) will be excluded.
Studies from any country.
Studies from any healthcare setting (including neonatal unit, emergency department, outpatient or community setting).
Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies and guidelines.
Letters, comments and conference proceedings will be included if sufficient details are provided.
Studies published in English or Spanish.
Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and editorials will be excluded, but will be used to identify relevant primary literature.