Clinico-epidemiological spectrum of early onset neonatal sepsis in neonates admitted in NICU of a tertiary care institute

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms of infection with or without accompanying bacteremia in the first month of life. Neonatal sepsis may be classified into two groups : early onset sepsis and late onset sepsis . Early onset neonatal sepsis is generally associated with the acquisition of microorganisms from the mother and usually presents with respiratory distress and pneumonia.Methods: The study included one hundred term neonates with early onset neonatal sepsis. A septic screen including total leukocyte count, absolute neutrophil count, blood smear evaluation, blood cultures and C-reactive protein (CRP) were performed in all neonates with suspected sepsis to corroborate early onset sepsis diagnosis. Epidemiological parameters including gender of the neonate, mode of delivery, rural/urban residence were recorded in addition to clinical profile.Results: Respiratory distress was the most common presentation in the form of tachypnea, seen in 63 (63.0%) neonates. In present study, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonae.Conclusions: Early onset neonatal sepsis was seen more in males. Among the gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and among gram negative Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonae were most common organisms to be isolated.