Abstract :
Introduction: Sepsis is the commonest cause of neonatal mortality and is responsible for 30-50% of total neonatal deaths each year in developing countries Aims &Objective: To identify the common bacterial pathogens, risk factors associated with early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods: Neonates with suspected early onset sepsis were enrolled in the study. Blood culture was done and growth, if any was identified and standard antibiotic susceptibility testing was done according to CLSI 2017 guidelines. Results: Out of 150 neonates, 44 were culture proven cases of neonatal sepsis. Klebsiella spp. was isolated from 36.6% cases followed by Staphylococcus aureus 22.7% and Acinetobacter spp.(20.4%). The proportion of resistance to first line antibiotics like penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, gentamicin, amikacin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was high. On multivariate
analysis, premature rupture of membranes (p value=0.0001), maternal fever (p value=0.01) and birth asphyxia (p value=0.007) were significantly associated with EONS. Conclusion: Characterisation of causative organisms of EONS can aid in instituting prompt and appropriate therapy, in order to minimize morbidity and mortality
Keyword :
Antibiotic susceptibility testing; Blood culture; Early onset neonatal sepsis; Neonate; Risk factors.