Abstract

Neonatal sepsis is a clinical condition defined as an infection in newborns accompanied by or caused by an infection of the blood, typically bacterial and rarely fungal. The spectrum of organisms that cause neonatal sepsis changes over time and also varies from region to region. Present study was aimed to bacteriological and demographic pattern of term and late preterm neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: Present study was retrospective, observational study, conducted in neonates with suspected or diagnosed for neonatal sepsis admitted to neonatal intensive care units during the study period. Results: In present study, total admissions from 0 to 28 days of life in NICU during study period were 940. Out of 940 admissions 106 to be screened for sepsis. Male neonates were more (57.55 %) as compared to female (42.45 %), male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Majority of neonates were term (gestational age > 37 weeks) (51.89 %), had birth weight > 2.5 kg (55.66 %), presented at first week of life only (75.47 %) & had duration of labour as 12-24 hours (51.89 %). Incidence of early onset sepsis (i.e within 72 hours after birth) was 56%, rest 44% had late onset sepsis (i.e after 72 hours after birth). On admission, blood samples of each neonate admitted with suspected sepsis were sent for blood culture. Growth of organisms was reported in 46 neonates (43.4 %). 27 neonates (58.7 %) from early onset sepsis had positive growth on culture. Common organisms isolated were Staph Aureus (MSSA) (17.39 %), E. Coli (15.22 %), Klebsiella Pneumonae (8.7 %). 57.55 % neonates required ventilatory support & total 14.15 % neonatal mortality was noted. Conclusion: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal admission, morbidity and mortality in developing countries.

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