Types of bacteria associated with neonatal sepsis in al-Thawra University Hospital, Sana’a, Yemen, and their antimicrobial profile

Abstract EN

Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the organisms causing sepsis in the Neonatal Unit at Al-Thawra Hospital, Sana’a, Yemen, determine their resistance to antibiotics, and recommend policy for empirical treatment.

Methods : A total of 158 neonates having one or more signs of sepsis, and aged from 0 to 28 days, were enrolled in this study.

A blood sample was taken from each subject, cultured, and then antibacterial susceptibility tests were performed for isolates.

Results : 90 (57 %) cases yielded positive cultures.

Early-onset sepsis showed higher positive culture results (61.7 %) than late-onset sepsis (32 %).

Significant positive culture results were found among the group with birth weight 0.9–2 Kg (78.6 %).

Gram negative bacteria constituted 97.8 % of the total isolates, of which Klebsiella pneumoniae was the predominant pathogen (36.7 %), followed by Pseudomonas species (30.0 %).

The commonest symptoms among the cases were respiratory distress (72.2 %), jaundice (62.2 %), cyanosis (51.1 %), and lethargy (47.8 %) ; the mortality rate was 27.8 %.

All Gram negative bacterial isolates were sensitive to imipenem and some isolates were sensitive to fourth-generation cephalosporins, but most isolates were highly resistant to the majority of other antibiotics tested.

Conclusion: Gram negative organisms were the most frequent causative agents of bacterial sepsis, which is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the newborn, and particularly in those of very low birth weight.

It can also be concluded that imipenem and fourth-generation cephalosporins can be used for empirical treatment of bacterial sepsis.