Guidelines for detection, management and prevention of hyperbilirubinemia in term and late preterm newborn infants

Hyperbilirubinemia is very common and usually benign in the term newborn infant and the late preterm infant at 35 to 36 completed weeks’ gestation. Critical hyperbilirubinemia is uncommon but has the potential for causing longterm neurological impairment. Early discharge of the healthy newborn infant, particularly those in whom breastfeeding may not be fully established, may be associated with delayed diagnosis of significant hyperbilirubinemia. Guidelines for the prediction, prevention, identification, monitoring and treatment of severe hyperbilirubinemia are presented.