Neonatal sepsis in NICU: bacterial isolates and their sensitivity pattern

To assess the prevailing pathogens and their sensitivity pattern to antibiotics in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICV]. This was a descriptive study carried out from 1[st] July 2004 to 30[th] June 2005, at National Institute of Child Health, Karachi: All the neonates admitted into NICU with strong suspicion of neonatal sepsis were included in the study. A total of 687 cases with suspected sepsis were admitted and blood was sent for culture and sensitivity. Out of 687 cases, 319 [46.43%] were positive on blood culture. Frequent offenders were gram negative organisms 295 [92.48%]. Out of 295 gram -ve blood culture, Enterobacter was the most common pathogen [52.88%, n=I56], followed by Klebsiella [22.37%, n=66], Pseudomonas [21.0%, n=62], E.coli [2.0%, n=6], Citrobacater [1.35%, n=4] and Serratia. [0.33%, n=1]. Among grams +ve organisms [7.52% n=24] Staph aureus was the main causative organism [n=17] followed by Streptococcuspneumoniae [n=4] and streptococcus spp [n=3]. Multi-drug resistant gram -ve organisms are emerging as significant pathogens among cases of neonatal sepsis in our NICU