NeonIN is a Neonatal Infection Surveillance Network, active since 2004. Its main functions are collecting and storing data about the organisms (bacterial and fungal) causing neonatal infections and their antibiotic/antifungal resistance patterns. It matches anonymised demographic and clinical data to the microbiology information. These data allow the monitoring of infections and clinical practice over time. NeonIN is a platform for national audits and interventional studies. The data collected are available to all the network participants and can be used by the participating units to monitor their own practice, compare themselves with other units and it can be analysed at a national level to inform policy and practice.

neonIN was funded in 2004 and initially 4 neonatal units were involved. Currently there are 40 Neonatal Units (from 36 centres) entering data. Of these 29 Units are from UK; with 6 Units from Estonia  and 5 from Greece.  The numbers of participants continues to increase.

The neonIN database is developed as part of the Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection

The purpose of NeonIN is to collect high quality data on pathogens causing neonatal infections and their antibiotic sensitivity in the Neonatal Intensive Care environment and matching them with clinical data. At present there are little data available in this area from the UK and most information come from the US and Australasia where epidemiology and care practice differ.

• Describing the epidemiology of neonatal infections and their antibiotic resistance patterns in the NNU population and its changes over time.

• Monitoring practice changes

• Providing an ongoing audit of predefined outcomes

• Providing a basis for interventional studies

• Establishing a benchmarking system.