Variation in lumbar punctures for early onset neonatal sepsis: A nationally representative serial cross-sectional analysis, 2003–2009

Whether lumbar punctures (LPs) should be performed routinely for term newborns suspected of having early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) is subject to debate. It is unclear whether variations in performance of LPs for EONS may be associated with patient, hospital, insurance or regional factors.