Neonatal sepsis and associated maternal risk factors: A clinical case- control study

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is usually diagnosed with pathogen/bacterial isolation from the bloodstream or symptoms of infection seen in infection of 28 days or younger. Neonatal sepsis includes various diseases with varying mortality rates of 11-40% contributing to nearly 3.1 deaths globally in new-borns every year. Aim: The present study was conducted to assess the risk factors associated with low-birth-weight babies in an Indian setup. Methods: The present study screened 502 subjects and 202 were found to have confirmed diagnosis of neonatal sepsis as assessed by the Pediatrician depending on the signs and symptoms of the sepsis. Results: Premature membrane rupture was seen in 7.89% (n=3) subjects of late-onset sepsis and 20.12% (n=33) subjects with early-onset sepsis. Multipara was seen in 13.15% (n=5) and 11.58% (n=19) subjects with late and early-onset sepsis, meconium-stained amniotic fluid was the risk factor in 5.26% (n=2) and 13.41% (n=22) subjects with late and early-onset sepsis, maternal UTI was seen in 2.63% (n=1) and 15.24% (n=25) study subjects with late and early onset sepsis, and foul-smelling liquor was the risk factor in 2.63% (n=1) and 64.63% (n=106) study subjects with late and early onset sepsis respectively.