Clinico-epidemiological spectrum of early onset neonatal sepsis in neonates admitted in NICU of a tertiary care institute

ABSTRACT

Background: Neonatal' sepsis' is' a' clinical syndrome' characterized by signs and symptoms' of' infection' with' or' without' accompanying' bacteremia' in' the' first' month' of' life. Neonatal' sepsis' may' be' classified' into' two' groups early onset' sepsis and' late onset' sepsis . Early onset neonatal sepsis' is' generally' associated' with' the' acquisition' of' microorganisms' from' the' mother' and' usually' presents' with' respiratory' distress' and' pneumonia.Methods: The study included one hundred' term' neonates with early onset neonatal sepsis. A septic screen including total leukocyte count, absolute neutrophil count, blood smear evaluation, blood cultures and C-reactive protein (CRP) were performed in all neonates with suspected sepsis to corroborate early onset sepsis diagnosis. Epidemiological parameters including gender of the neonate, mode of delivery, rural/urban residence were recorded in addition to clinical profile.Results: Respiratory distress was the most common presentation in the form of tachypnea, seen in 63 (63.0%) neonates. In present study, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonae.Conclusions: Early onset neonatal sepsis' was seen more in males. Among the gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and among gram negative Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonae were most common organisms to be isolated.