The bacterial prevalence and the production of bacteriocin by group B streptococcus in neonatal sepsis

Abstract EN

Neonatal bacterial sepsis is one of the major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates .This study was performed to determine the prevalence of bacterial sepsis with focus on gram positive and gram negative in neonates admitted at Karbala Teaching Hospital for Children , during the period , from November 2008 to April 2009.The neonates ranged from (1-30) days old .The early onset neonates are more susceptible for neonatal sepsis (60%) than late onset sepsis (40%) and males are more affected than females.

Blood culture was performed on all neonates with risk factors or sings of suggestive sepsis .

Blood samples were cultured using brain heart infusion broth according to standard method .

From the 100 neonates (42%) had positive blood culture for group B streptococcus , (30%) for E.

coli , (16%) forPseudomonas aeruginosa , (8%) for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus (4%) .

Group B streptococcus bacteria represents the high percentage of bacteria in this study , therefore , we investigated the bacteriocin production properties of GBS isolates .

(76%) of GBS isolates produced bacteriocin while (24%) of GBS isolates didn't produce bacteriocine .

E.coli , Pseudomonas and Klebsiella showed a high degree of resistance to commonly used antibiotic (ampicillin , gentamicin) as well as third generation cephalosporins .