Isolation Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus From Neonatal Sepsis At A Tertiary Care Hospital

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Septicemia is the significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonates and is responsible for 30-50% of totalneonatal deaths .Each year in developing countries. It is estimated that 20% of all neonates develop sepsis and approximately1% die of sepsis related causes.In India, according to National Perinatal Database the incidence of neonatal septicemia has beenreported to be 30/1000 live births. The emergence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in neonatal patientsis increasing. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapy of septicemia is of utmost importance to prevent morbidity and mortality.Aim and Study It was to find out the bacteriological profile in neonatal sepsis and study their antimicrobial susceptibilitypattern including detection of MRSA.Methods: This study was conducted for a period of one year in the department of microbiology in a tertiary care hospital. A totalof 283 blood samples were collected using sterile precautions They were processed following standard laboratory protocol.Antibiogram was done using appropriate antibiotics by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Isolated of Staphylococcus aureuswere tested for methicillin resistance.Results: Blood from 283 neonates with the clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis were collected and samples were processed.Out of which 96 (33.92%) were culture positive.Total 53 (55.2%) Staphylococcus aureus were isolated out of which 27 (50.94%)were MRSA (Methicliin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus).Acinetobacter spp.was isolated in 15 (15.62%) cases.Klebsiella spp.was isolated in 13 (13.54%) cases. Psedomonas spp. was isolated in 3(3.12%) case . Antibiotic sensitivity test of MRSA wasdone and all MRSA isolates were sensitive to Vancomycin.Conclusion: Multidrug resistance among the isolates was common. Early diagnosis and institution of specific antibiotics afterstudying the sensitivity pattern will help in reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality and prevent emergence of drug resistantstrains. An effective infection-control programme, regular antibiotic susceptibility surveillance ,evaluation, and the enforcementand periodic review of the antibiotic policy of the hospital as well as the encouragement of rational antibiotic use will reducethe rates of development of bacterial resistance.