Which of the following is a characteristic of late onset sepsis?

Late onset sepsis in neonates typically occurs after the first 72 hours of life and is often characterized by moderate, slowly progressive symptoms rather than the acute presentation seen in early onset sepsis. The insidious onset of symptoms can make it challenging to diagnose early, as the clinical manifestations may be subtle and gradually escalate. This can include changes in behavior, feeding patterns, and vital signs, turning more severe if the infection is not identified and managed promptly.

The other characteristics mentioned in the options relate to early onset sepsis or misrepresent the nature of late onset sepsis. For instance, it is essential to recognize that the causative organisms in late onset sepsis often differ from those seen in early onset cases, and while bacteria like Streptococcus agalactiae may be significant in early cases, they are less common in late onset infections. Additionally, late onset sepsis is typically a result of nosocomial infections rather than vertical transmission, which is more characteristic of early onset sepsis that occurs due to maternal infections being passed to the neonate during or shortly after delivery. Thus, the description of moderate, gradually worsening symptoms aligns accurately with how late onset sepsis manifests clinically.