A study on Bacteriological Profile of Neonatal Septicemia and Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern

Abstract

Background: Neonatal septicemia, a critical neonatal illness, involves multiple bacteria types, frequently Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antimicrobial susceptibility varies, however, increased resistance against commonly used antibiotics, such as ampicillin and gentamicin, poses significant challenges. Timely diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics selection, informed by current bacterial profiles and sensitivity patterns, are crucial for improving neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the bacteriological profile of neonatal septicemia and antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Dr. Sirajul Islam Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the period from October 2021 to February 2023. Total 243 neonates with septicemia were included in this study. Results: The study sampled 243 subjects, 207 (85.2%) ≤72 hours old, and 36 (14.8%) >72 hours with a female predominance (89.7%). Positive bacterial cultures were seen in 46 (18.9%) individuals, predominantly Pseudomonas (28.2%). Organism incidence varied between early (35 occurrences, 76.1%) and late (11 occurrences, 23.9%) onset groups. More bacteria were observed in females (39 cases, 84.8%) than males (7 cases, 15.2%). Antibiotic sensitivity showed Pseudomonas was most responsive to Cephalosporin (20 cases, 43.5%). Acinetobacter showed the highest resistance to Cephalosporin (10 cases, 21.7%). Conclusion: From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that early-onset septicemia had higher bacterial presence than late-onset, and females exhibited more bacterial presence than males. Pseudomonas was the most frequent organism which was most responsive to Ceftazedime.