Neonatal Sepsis is Still a Major Problem in Tertiary Care Hospitals.

In a developing country like India, one of the most important health hazards is neonatal sepsis. The ever full SNCUs of the hospitals are living proof of this. The neonates both early and late are extremely vulnerable to all organisms, both in the community and much more so in the hospital. Neonatal sepsis contributes to infant mortality rate in a very significant way. Nosocomial neonatal sepsis is much more dangerous and contributes to morbidity and mortality in a very big way.METHODSIn this study, neonatal sepsis was assessed by culture of blood, pus from infected umbilical stump, and CSF sample received from SNCU. The isolated organisms were identified phenotypically following our laboratory protocol. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was done by Kirby-Bauer method, following CLSI guidelines.RESULTSIt was found that 48% of the total samples received from SNCU were growth positive. Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated in maximum number of cases, 42.85% followed by Staphylococcus aureus 18.53%. Antibiotic sensitivity test by Kirby- Bauer method showed that all Gram-positive cocci were sensitive to vancomycin. There was only one linezolid resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Among the Gram-negative bacilli 100% isolates were sensitive to carbapenems. Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were multidrug resistant.CONCLUSIONSSNCU admitted babies are extremely vulnerable to septicaemia. The ever-changing drug resistant patterns of the infecting organisms is a perineal problem. Thus, infection control measures are to be strictly enforced in this setting.