A Prospective Study of Sepsis among Newborns and It's Etiology in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a worldwide problem with the prevalence at 1 to10 per 1000 live birth and one of the indicator for measuring the health status of a nation. According to WHO there are about 5 million neonatal death per year with 98% occurring in developing countries. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat worldwide. Blood culture is considered as the gold standard technique for diagnosis of neonatal septicemia.

Objectives

1. To know the various bacteria causing neonatal septicemia and their antibiogram.
2. To detect drug resistance among the isolated bacteria

Method: A Prospective study was done over a period of 2 year. Blood samples for culture were collected aseptically before starting antibiotic therapy and subcultures were performed. The isolates were identified by standard biochemical tests and antibiogram of the isolates were studied.

Results: Out of 360 cases 160 were bacteriologically positive, Klebsiella was the most common organism isolated (21%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (20%) Acinetobacter (15%), Pseudomonas (13%). Maximum sensitivity was seen by Linezolid, Erythromycin for Gram positive organisms and Gram negative organisms were sensitive to Piperacillin/ Tazobactum, Imipenem, Levofloxacin, Meropenem.

Conclusion: Knowledge of likely causative organism causing neonatal septicemia can help in instituting prompt and appropriate therapy which in turn reduce morbidity and mortality.