The bacteriological and demographic pattern of term and near term neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care hospital

Aims and Objective: of the study was to assess the bacteriological profile and demographic pattern of neonatal sepsis. Material and Methods: Prospective analytic study was done from January 2015 to December 2015. Out of 1272 admissions, all term and near term neonates with weight appropriate for gestational age were 954, all were investigated on the basis of history, clinical findings, biochemical investigations, cultures for bacteriological profile and demographic pattern of neonatal sepsis. Results: out of 954 who qualified inclusion criteria, sepsis was diagnosed in 396 (41.51%) neonates. Among 396 neonates 116 had at least one episode of positive culture, Out of 116 patients 110 were positive in blood cultures, four in CSF cultures and two in urine cultures. Gram negative sepsis occurred in 70 out of 116 (60.3%), gram positive sepsis occurred in 28 out of 116 (24.1%) and fungal sepsis was diagnosed in (15.5%). Acinetobacter was the most common organism in gram negative sepsis 26 out of 116 (22.4%) followed by klebsiella 15.5%, Escherichia Coli 12.9%, Pseudomonas 6.9% and Burkholderia Pseudomallei 2.6%. Among gram positive organisms the most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus 12.9% followed by Enterococcus 6.9% and Coagulase negative Staphylococcus 4.3% patients. Conclusion: gram negative sepsis occurred more commonly than Gram positive in both early and late onset cases of sepsis. Incidence of acinetobacter and fungal sepsis was more in those patients which were referred from outside in more sick condition, required prolonged mechanical ventilation and more invasive procedures. All demographic parameters were insignificant across the study except age at time of admission.