Neonatal septicemia and antibiogram: Paediatrician's Challenge

Neonatal sepsis is a worldwide problem with the prevalence at 1 to10 per 1000 live births and one of the indicator for measuring the health status of a Nation. According to WHO there are about 5 million neonatal death per year with 98 occurring in developing countries. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat worldwide. The present study aimed to know the various bacteria causing neonatal septicemia and their antibiogram. Ours was a Prospective study done over a period of 2 years. Blood samples for culture were collected aseptically before starting antibiotic therapy and subcultures were performed. The isolates were identified by standard biochemical tests and antibiogram of the isolates were studied. Out of 360 cases 160 were bacteriologically positive Klebsiella was the most common organism isolated 21 followed by Staphylococcus aureus 20 Acinetobacter 15 Pseudomonas 13.Maximum sensitivity was seen with Linezolid Erythromycin for Gram positive organisms and Gram negative organisms were sensitive to Piperacillin Tazobactum Imipenem Levofloxacin and Meropenem. Findings of our study will enhance the knowledge of likely causative organism causing neonatal septicemia for the clinicians which can in turn help in instituting prompt and appropriate therapy which in turn reduce morbidity and mortality.