Bacteriology of neonatal sepsis in a hospital in southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is a common diagnostic challenge in newborns with clinical features which are protean, subtle, and non-specific. There are varying incidences of neonatal sepsis, etiological agents, and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern. However, to adopt an empirical antibiotic in a region, there is a need to determine the etiological agent and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern in that region. This study aimed to determine the common organism responsible for neonatal sepsis and the antibiotics sensitivity pattern. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Consecutive neonates with features of sepsis were recruited. Blood culture and sensitivity patterns were carried out. Data were analyzed and p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 180 neonates comprising 106 (58.9%) males with a male to female ratio 1.4:1. The incidence of neonatal sepsis was 17.8%. Majority of neonates with sepsis were out-born (56.3%) and fever (62.5%) was the most common presenting feature. The most common organism isolates were Staphylococcus aureus accounting for (70.5%), followed by Klebsiella (11.7%) while coagulase negative staphylococcus (2.9%) was the least. The overall sensitivity of organisms isolated showed a sensitivity of 90.9% to ciprofloxacin, 86.4% to ceftriaxone, 77.3% to ofloxacin, and 72.8% to cefuroxime. While there was resistance to genticin 54.5%, ampicillin 40.9%, and cloxacillin 41.7%. Conclusion: There was high resistance to the commonly used empirical antibiotics and overall sensitivity to ciprofloxacin. Therefore, there is a need to review the present antibiotic protocol.