ABSTRACT
Background: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in newborn in developing countries. The spectrum of bacteria which causes neonatal sepsis varies in different parts of the world. Surveillance of causative organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern promotes rational use of antibiotics and antibiotic stewardship. Objective: To assess the clinical and bacteriological profile of neonatal sepsis.Material & Methods:A retrospective study was conducted at Department of Pediatrics, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh from January to June 2019. Of the 207 neonates with clinical suspicion of sepsis, 55 neonates included. Culture positive sepsis was defined as isolation of bacterial pathogen from blood in neonates with clinical suspicion of sepsis.Results:Of the 207 neonates with clinical suspicion of sepsis, 55 neonates had blood culture positive sepsis. Sepsis was predominant in males (64.5%). Low birth weight (47.2%) and prematurity (40.9%) were important neonatal risk factors for sepsis. Early onset sepsis occurred in 58.1% of the cases and late onset sepsis in 41.9% of the neonates. Gram-positive cocci constituted 67.52% of all isolates and gram negative 30.76%. The most frequently isolated organism in blood was methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococcus (MRCONS) (32.47%). Gram positive organisms included MRCONS, methicillin resistant Staphylococci aureus (MRSA), group B Streptococci (GBS), Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci. Among Gram-negative organisms, Acinetobacter was most frequently isolated followed by Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Citrobacter and Burkholderia species. The mortality in the study group was 13.5%. Gram negative organisms were most resistant to ampicillin and cephalosporins. Gram positive isolates were least resistant to vancomycin and linezolid.Conclusion:In conclusion, gram positive sepsis was found to be common in present study, although mortality was high in gram negative sepsis. Careful measures have to be taken to overcome the change in trend of organisms causing sepsis, and selection of antibiotics should be prudent.