Gastric Aspirate Examination as an Index for Detection of Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Our study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of gastric aspirate examination (GAE) in the early identification of early onset sepsis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was done for a total 291 neonates who were admitted with high risk for early onset sepsis to Nowon Eulji Hospital neonatal intensive care unit between Jan. 1999 and Jan. 2003. Contents of gastric aspirate via nasogastric tube were analyzed with wet smear, gram stain and culture. Positive blood culuture was our definitive criterion for sepsis. GAE was considered positive when five or more leukocytes per high power field were counted on wet smear or when any bacteria were present on gram stain or when any organism grew on culture. RESULTS: Positive results in gastric aspirate examination are 57 patients (19.6%) in wet smear, 28 patients (9.6%) in gram stain, 30 patients (10.3%) in culture and positive result in blood is 27 patients (9.3%). There are no statistically correlation between gastric aspirate examinations and early onset sepsis. CONCLUSION: We concluded that gastric aspirate examinations are of limited value in predicting the diagnosis of early onset sepsis in neonate.