Abstract:
Background: Sepsis remains one of the top three causes of mortality in neonates. Most neonatal deaths due to sepsis are seen in lower-middle-income-countries and especially in NICUs which cater only to extra-mural babies. Antimicrobial resistance poses further challenges in treating neonates with sepsis.
Aims: We aimed to study the profile of culture positive cases and the isolates along with the pattern of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains in our NICU over a period of one year.
Methods: This was a prospective study in which we studied the neonates with culture positive sepsis and the isolates for their profile and outcomes.
Results: A total of 1014 referred neonates were admitted over one year, out of which 56 (5.5%) neonates had culture positive sepsis. Gram negative sepsis accounted for 46 (82.1%) cases; (Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 21 (37.6%), E. Coli 10 (17.9%), Acinetobacter baumannii 9 (16%) and Salmonella species 3 (5.3%) cases. Multidrug resistance was seen in 60.9% of the gram negative organisms isolated. Overall case fatality rate was 42.5% which did not vary significantly in MDR and non MDR sepsis (42.8% vs 38.9%). (details available in the Table attached)
Conclusion: Sepsis continues to cause mortality in neonates in LMICs. The problem is escalated by increasing antimicrobial resistance. Prevention of sepsis by following asepsis protocols and avoiding injudicious antibiotic usage is the only effective way of mitigating the menace of sepsis. Comparable mortality in MDR and non MDR sepsis needs further research for evaluation of other factors causing mortality is sepsis.
Biography:
Dr. Ruchi Rai is a Professor in the Department of Neonatology at Postgraduate Institute of Child Health, Noida, India which is an apex tertiary level teaching Institute. She did her MD in Pediatrics from Delhi University. She has an experience of 30 years in practicing Pediatrics and Neonatology and has taught numerous postgraduate and undergraduate students in her career. She is a dedicated researcher and has published more than 60 papers in reputed journals. She has authored chapters in many books. She is a reviewer for many international journals. She is actively involved in holding workshops for educating and training doctors and nurses.
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