Background and Objectives : Neonatal septicemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in new born infants. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the key words in the management of neonatal sepsis. This study was under taken to know the predisposing factors , outcome, early indicators of sepsis and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the organisms isolated from neonatal septicemia cases. Materials and Methods : The 130 neonates with clinical suspicion of septicemia were included in this study. The blood is subjected to following investigations. 1. Hb, TC, DC with absolute neutrophil count. 2. Micro ESR 3. CRP 4. Blood Culture 5. Gastric aspirate (when indicated) 6. CSF (when indicated) 7. Urine, tracheal aspirate were subjected to culture and sensitivity when indicated. Results :Culture was bacteriologically positive in 25.4% cases. Gram negative bacilli such as KLebsiella(3.8%) and E.coli(2.3%) constituted 36.3% of isolates, gram positive organisms isolated were S.epidermidis (6.9%), S.aureus(4.6%) and Enterococcus faecalis(4.6%). Ciprofloxacin had maximum sensitivity of 20 (15.4%). Leucopenia < 5000/cmm had sensitivity of 47% specificity of 36.36 % and PPV of 46.15 %, Absolute neutrophil count had 48.48 % sensitivity, 90.72% specificity and 64 % PPV . m-ESR had sensitivity of 66.67 %, specificity of 85.57%, PPV of 61.11%, C-reactive protein had 78.79% sensitivity and 89.69% specificity and 72.22% PPV. Case fatality rate was 3.8%. Conclusion : Clinical features of neonatal septicemia are non specific and vague. Sepsis screen had good sensitivity, specificity, and PPV. Combination of tests increases the specificity and PPV. As an individual test C-reactive protein has highest sensitivity.

TITLE - BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF NEONATAL SEPSIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A LABORATORY CHALLENGE
AUTHOR - Dr. Prarthana M S
••••••IJSER Edition - March 2018

UNIVERSITY - Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, Bangalore
GUIDE NAME -
Dr. Sandhya Belwadi