ABSTRACT
@#Objectives: This study was conducted to determine profile of neonates being treated with meropenem as well as to assess its clinical efficacy in the treatment of neonatal infections. Methods: This is a retrospective review of the records of sick neonates admitted at the Newborn Care Unit of a tertiary hospital and treated with meropenem. Those discharged against advice were excluded. Frequency and percentage were used in comparing the following variables: sex, 5-minute APGAR score, age of gestation, birth weight, type of infection, culture results, treatment outcome, and adverse reactions. Results: There were 34 charts available for review, but two were excluded. There were 62.5 % females and 37.5 % males: 28.1 % of them had a 5-minute APGAR score of 10; 37.5 % had 9; 21.9% had 8; and 12.5 % had 7. Sixty-two percent (62.5%) of the subjects were between 32 to 35 weeks age of gestation: 46.9 % were of low birth weight; 34.4 % were of very low birth weight; and 18.7 % had normal weights. Sepsis was the most common indication in the use of meropenem, followed by sepsis with pneumonia, pneumonia then sepsis with meningitis. Majority (68.75%) of the patients had no growth in their blood while 60% had no growth in the CSF. Enterobacter aerogenes (15.6%) was the most common blood isolate while Enterobacter gergeviae (20%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (20%) were the isolates in the CSF culture. Treatment outcomes were favorable; 84.4% were improved, while 9.4% were unimproved and shifted to other antibiotics, and 6.2% died. Conclusion: The use of meropenem is effective in the treatment of life-threatening infections among newborns.