Prevalence and factors associated with neonatal sepsis among hospitalized newborns at Ruvuma, southern Tanzania

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is one of the most common causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries.Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with neonatal sepsis among hospitalized new-borns at Ruvuma, southern Tanzania.Methods: A facility-based retrospective study was conducted at Songea Regional Referral hospital in Ruvuma, during August-October, 2018. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographic, obstetric and clinical information from medical case files of patients. Neonatal sepsis was diagnosed clinically. Data were analysed using SPSS version 24.0. Chi square test was used to assess relationship between outcome and exposure variables. Multivariate logistic regression was used to measure association after controlling for confounders, and P-values of <0.05 were statistically significant.Results: Medical case files of 263 neonates were reviewed. Of these, 131(49.8%) had sepsis. Factors associated with neonatal sepsis were prematurity (AOR=2.2; 95%CI. 1.3 ­ 3.6, p=0.002), age of more than a week (AOR=2.2; 95%CI. 1.0 ­ 4.6, p=0.04), intravenous cannulation after birth (AOR=6.3; 95%CI. 2.1 ­ 19.0, p=0.002), and resuscitation with nasal oxygen prongs (AOR=1.7; 95%CI. 1.1 ­ 2.9, p=0.02).Conclusions: Neonatal sepsis is relatively common among neonates in Ruvuma and is associated with maternal and health services related factors. The findings underscore the importance of routine assessment and close monitoring of neonates

Epidemiology of neonatal sepsis and associated factors implicated: observational study at neonatal intensive care unit of Arsi University Teaching and Referral Hospital, South East Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Globally, sepsis remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in neonates, in spite of recent advances in health care units. The major burden of the problem occurs in the developing world while most evidence is derived from developed countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of neonatal sepsis and associated factors among neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). METHODS: Hospital based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2016 to May 2017. Neonates with clinical sepsis were included into the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Frequencies, proportion and summary statistics were used to describe the study population in relation to relevant variables. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess factors associated with neonatal sepsis. p-values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 901neonates were admitted to NICU of which 303 neonates were admitted with diagnosis of clinical sepsis making the prevalence of neonatal sepsis to be 34%. Bacteremia were confirmed in 88/303(29.3%) of clinical sepsis, and gram-positive bacteria constituted 47/88(53.4%). Of all positive blood cultures, 52/88(59.1%) were reported from late onset sepsis. Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CoNS) accounted for 22/88(25%) followed by E. coli and S. aureus, each contributing 18/88(20.3%) and 16/88(18.2%) respectively. Prolonged PROM, low fifth Apgar score, prematurity and low birth weight were strongly associated with increased risk of neonatal sepsis. Neonates born to mothers who received antibiotics during labor and delivery were at significantly lower risk of acquiring neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of neonatal sepsis was high, and most causes of neonatal sepsis were gram positive bacteria and most bacteria isolates were from late onset sepsis. Obstetric factors were strongly associated with development of neonatal sepsis. Intrapartal antibiotic administration significantly reduces neonatal sepsis