Abstract :
Introduction: Acinetobacter species are opportunistic pathogen, which are gaining importance in hospital
acquired neonatal septicemia due to multidrug resistance and causing increased morbidity as well as
mortality.
Materials and Methods: A prospective analysis was performed over a period of 6 months. Blood samples
from neonates suspected of sepsis were collected and culture was done using conventional techniques.
Acinetobacter when isolated were identified up to species level and drug sensitivity pattern of those isolate
were done. Risk factors leading to Acinetobacter septicemia were also studied.
Results: Out of 200 blood culture samples, 12(17.1%) Acinetobacter species were isolated, among these
the predominant isolate was 7(58.3%) Acinetobacter baumannii, followed by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus
3(25%) and 1(8.3%) each were A.lwofii and A.hemolyticus. All isolates were resistant to 3 or more group
of drugs.
Conclusion: Neonatal septicemia especially with MDR Acinetobacter is on the rise and is associated with
increased morbidity and mortality. Continuous surveillance of isolates from neonatal septicemia, adherence
to infection control policies and rational antibiotic usage will reduce the incidence of such infections.
Keyword :
Acinetobacter, Neonates, Septicemia.