ASSOCIATION OF NEONATAL BIRTH WEIGHT AND NEONATAL SEPSIS ALONG WITH PATHOGEN DISTRIBUTION IN KARACHI POPULATION

Abstract

Neonatal mortality rates are high in infants with low or very low birth weight (VLBW) as they are prone to sepsis. Early-onset sepsis (EOS) which occurs at 48hr of life remains an important cause of illness and death in VLBW infants. The objective of the study is to analyze the association between Neonatal birth weight and neonatal sepsis in the Karachi population and to study their pathogen distribution in positive isolates. A prospective cross-sectional study took place in Karachi's leading hospitals, Darul Sehat hospital and Abdus Samad hospital. Neonatal birth weight and neonatal blood culture sensitivity tests were studied for positive sepsis. Data were analyzed using SPSS applying the Chi-square test Results out of 120 neonates' blood culture sensitivity test 12 neonates had positive sepsis. The weight of 6 neonates out of 12 positive was 2.1-3kg and the other 6 neonates' weight was 3kg. 3 isolates were Streptococcus pneumonia and 9 were Staphylococcus aureus. Infants with positive sepsis are of healthy weight. Therefore, results were found to have no significant relation between neonatal birth weight and neonatal sepsis. EOS remains an uncommon yet important cause of morbidity and mortality among VLBW infants.