ABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to investigate the organisms causing sepsis in the Neonatal Unit at Al-Thawra Hospital, Sana'a, Yemen, determine their resistance to antibiotics, and recommend policy for empirical treatment. A total of 158 neonates having one or more signs of sepsis, and aged from 0 to 28 days, were enrolled in this study. A blood sample was taken from each subject, cultured, and then antibacterial susceptibility tests were performed for isolates. 90 [57%] cases yielded positive cultures. Early-onset sepsis showed higher positive culture results [61.7%] than late-onset sepsis [32%]. Significant positive culture results were found among the group with birth weight 0.9-2 Kg [78.6%]. Gram negative bacteria constituted 97.8% of the total isolates, of which Klebsiella pneumoniae was the predominant pathogen [36.7%], followed by Pseudomonas species [30.0%]. The commonest symptoms among the cases were respiratory distress [72.2%], jaundice [62.2%], cyanosis [51.1%], and lethargy [47.8%]; the mortality rate was 27.8%. All Gram negative bacterial isolates were sensitive to imipenem and some isolates were sensitive to fourth-generation cephalosporins, but most isolates were highly resistant to the majority of other antibiotics tested. Gram negative organisms were the most frequent causative agents of bacterial sepsis, which is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the newborn, and particularly in those of very low birth weight. It can also be concluded that imipenem and fourth-generation cephalosporins can be used for empirical treatment of bacterial sepsis