study of neonatal aerobic bacterial septicemia

ABSTRACT

Septicaemia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. A study was done at the Pakistan institute of Medical Sciences [PIMS], Islamabad to identify the commonly responsible aerobic bacteria causing septicaemia and finding their sensitivity to antimicrobials which could help in reducing mortality and morbidity in neonates. During one year [November 1991 to October 1992], 81 clinically suspected cases of neonatal septicaemia were investigated by performing blood culture. Forty-five organisms were isolated from 44 blood culture positive cases. Klebsiella was the most frequent and isolated from 28 patients [62%] followed by staphylococcus coagulase-negative [8.9%], staphylococcus aureus [6.7%] and Escherichia cloi [6.7%]. One case each of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella spp. was isolated. Klebsiella pneumoniae were multiple-drug resistant. They were sensitive to amikacin [89%], ceftazidime [70%] and cefotaxime [52%]. Other isolates also demonstrated a similar pattern of sensitivity