Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Lymphangiectasis, Intestinal/diagnosis , MaleABSTRACT
Incidence of neonatal sepsis in a study carried out among hospital born babies was found to be 5.3 per cent significantly high (10.9%) amongst low birth weight compared to (3.1%) normal birth weight babies. Sepsis related mortality also exceeded significantly in low birth weight babies. Positive cultures were obtained in 36.7 per cent of babies with sepsis. The organisms identified were Staphylococcus pyogenes (40%), E. coli (27.5%), Klebsiella spp. (15%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (10%) and Enterobacter spp. (7.5%). Gram negative bacilli predominated in early onset (< 72 hrs. of life) and gram positive cocci in late onset. Mortality with early onset culture positive neonatal sepsis was significantly high compared to late onset. The bacterial isolates obtained were found to be resistant to routinely used antibiotics (penicillin, ampicillin and gentamycin). Third generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides (netilmycin) were found to be effective in treatment of neonatal sepsis.
Subject(s)
Hospitalization , Humans , Incidence , India/epidemiology , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Infant, Newborn , Sepsis/epidemiologySubject(s)
Asphyxia Neonatorum/mortality , Bacterial Infections/mortality , Congenital Abnormalities/mortality , Fetal Death/epidemiology , Fetal Hypoxia/mortality , Hospitals, Teaching/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Hypothermia/mortality , India/epidemiology , Infant Mortality , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Infant, Newborn , Infant, PrematureABSTRACT
A total of 2063 live births were studied during one year period from July 1994 to June 1995. Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) was 35.4 per thousand live births. The case fatality rate among low birth weight and preterms was 10.1% and 18.1% respectively. Though, low birth weight babies accounted for 27.8% of the live births but contributed for 79.5% of neonatal deaths [p < 0.001]. Similarly, preterm babies accounted for 13.2% of the live births but contributed for 69.9% of neonatal deaths [p < 0.001]. The causes of neonatal deaths found were birth asphyxia (31.1%), infections (23.3%), immaturity (17.8%), hypothermia (9.6%), hyaline membrane disease (2.7%) and cogenital malformation (1.4%). There is need to identify strategies to reduce the incidence of prematurity and low birth weight babies. Comprehensive antenatal coverage and adequate care followed by optimal management of newborns at birth is likely to reduce NMR and improve quality of life among survivors.