Clinical and bacteriological profiles of blood culture positive sepsis in newborns

Abstract

Neonatal infections currently cause about 1.6 million deaths annually in developing countries1. Sepsis and meningitis is responsible for most of these deaths. This study was undertaken to determine the clinical presentations, bacteriological profiles and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of isolates from blood cultures of neonates admitted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Surat, Gujarat. All blood culture (n=460) were collected from neonates suspected for septicemia and were analyzed and their   antibiotic sensitivity patterns were studied. The positive blood culture was 20.87% (96/460). Most (97.1%) of the sepsis was caused by single organism, while polymicrobial aetiology was observed in 2.9% cases. Among these isolates, Gram negative organisms were predominating t (53/96), while Gram positive isolates found in 43 cases (9 cases among which found to be caused by fungi, C.albicans ). E.coli (n=32), and then S.aureus (n=25) were the leading cause of neonatal sepsis respectively. Among all maternal and neonatal risk factors preterm delivery, LBW and PROM >24 hrs were found significantly associated with sepsis in newborns included under study. Majority of newborns with neonatal sepsis presented with breathlessness (n=54) and refusal of feed (n=24). Most of the organisms showed sensitivity with amino glycosides (gentamicin and amikacin) but were resist to the nelidixic acid and third generation of cephalosporins. It is concluded E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella species remain the principal organisms causing neonatal sepsis and first line antibiotics like amino glycosides should be first choice of drugs. Prevalence of MDR knocking the emergence of prevention of neonatal sepsis and thereby mortality and keenly checked on the predisposing factors associated with it.