Neonatal sepsis in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: Clinical features, clinical outcome, aetiology and antibiotic susceptibility pattern

Neonatal sepsis in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: Clinical features, clinical outcome, aetiology and antibiotic susceptibility pattern

Blog Article

Background:Neonatal sepsis is a significant cause of neonatal mortality in developing countries.The aetiological agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns are dynamic.Objectives: This study determined clinical features, aetiology, antimicrobial susceptibility and clinical outcome of neonatal sepsis in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.Methods: Neonates undergoing sepsis evaluation at a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital were included in the study.Demographic and clinical information were obtained using standard questionnaires.

Blood samples were cultured on MacConkey, Blood and Chocolate agar.Isolated bacteria Soccer - Bags were identified based on morphology, Gram stain appearance and standard commercially prepared biochemical tests.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar using the Kirby-Bauer method.Results: Eighty-five of the 180 neonates admitted during the study period were recruited.Fifty-five neonates presented with early-onset sepsis and 30 with late-onset sepsis.

Culture-proven sepsis was detected in 19 (22.4%) neonates.The incidence of culture-proven sepsis in the hospital was 2.8/100 live-births.The most common clinical feature at presentation was respiratory distress.

Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 78.9 percent of all isolates and were the only organisms encountered in earlyonset sepsis.Isolated pathogens were predominantly Klebsiella spp (31.6%), Enterobacter spp (21.1%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (15.

8%).The isolates were most sensitive to Darkroom Equipment ofloxacin.Gram-negative bacteria showed high resistance to cefuroxime and ampicillin.The case-fatality rate was 26%.Conclusion: Gram-negative bacilli, especially Klebsiella spp, was predominant.

Neonatal sepsis persists as a cause of mortality in this region.Regular antimicrobial surveillance for empirical treatment remains an important component of neonatal care.