Since the syndrome is a side effect of chloramphenicol, the prevention is primarily related to the proper use of the medication. The WHO Model Formulary for Children 2010 recommends to reserve chloramphenicol for life-threatening infections. As well as using chloramphenicol only when necessary, it should also be used in short periods of time to also prevent the potential for toxicity. In particular, this medication should not be prescribed especially in neonates less than one week old due to the significant risk of toxicity. Preterm infants especially should not be administered chloramphenicol.<unk>  has been noted to be dose-dependent as it typically occurs in neonates who have received a daily dose greater than 200 milligrams. When chloramphenicol is necessary, the condition can be prevented by using chloramphenicol at the recommended doses and monitoring blood levels, or alternatively, third generation cephalosporins can be effectively substituted for the drug, without the associated toxicity. Also, repeated course of administration and prolonged treatment should be avoided as much as possible. In terms of hepatic development in neonates, it take only weeks from birth for them to develop their UDPGT expression and function to be at an adult-like level, while the function is only about 1% in the late pregnancy, even right before birth-giving. According to MSD Manuals, chloramphenicol should not be given to neonates with younger than 1 month of age with more than a dose of 25 mg/kg/day to start with. The serum concentration of the medication should be monitored to titrate to a therapeutic level and to prevent toxicity. Medication reconciliation of other medications that neonates may be taking that can decrease blood cell count should be monitored because of this medication's ability to suppress bone marrow activity. Rifampicin and trimethoprim are examples of medications with bone marrow suppression abilities and are contraindicated for concomitant use with chloramphenicol. In regards to bone marrow suppression, chloramphenicol has two major etiological manifestations. The first mechanism of bone marrow suppression affects the formation of blood cells such as erythrocytes, and this can be reversible since it is an early sign up toxicity. The second form of bone marrow suppression is bone marrow aplasia, which is associated with being late into toxicity and cannot be reversed in some cases. Chloramphenicol is contraindicated in persons who are breastfeeding due to the risk of toxic effects in the baby, but if maternal use of chloramphenicol cannot be avoided, close monitoring of the baby's symptoms such as feeding difficulties, and blood work is recommended.
Gray baby syndrome
Blue baby syndrome
Michelin tire baby syndrome
Shaken baby syndrome
Neonatal diabetes
Baboon syndrome
Hydrolethalus syndrome
Hemolytic disease of the newborn 