PATTERN OF BACRERIAL INFECTION IN UNDER TWO MONTH INFANTS IN MYGOMA HOME FOR ORPHANGE KHARTOUM – SUDAN

Abstract

Neonatal sepsis is a life threatening emergency and any delay in diagnosis and treatment may result in death. The objectives of this study were to a) determine the causative bacterial pathogen in under two months orphanage children, who are admitted to Mygoma Home either (i)for less than72hoursor (ii)more than 72 hours, and to study the antimicrobial sensitivity, b) to study clinical presentation and c) study the short term outcome (2 weeks) of neonatal sepsis. The study was a prospective institution-based study, carried out in Mygoma Home for children, on daily bases from October 2004 to December 2004. Sepsis screening was done on 150 infants with signs and symptoms of neonatal sepsis, Blood, urine, Umbilical swabs and CSF culture had been taken. The most frequent causative organisms for infants in whom sepsis assessment was done within 72 hours of admission, were coagulase -ve staphylococcus in 17 (40%) infants. E. coli in 6 (14.2%) infants, Klebsiella in 6 (14.2%) infants, and Staph. aureus in 6 (14.2%) infants. On the other hand organisms isolated from infants admitted for more than 72 hrs were coagulase negative V staphylococcus in15 (38.4%)infants, followed by E. coli in 9 (23%) infants, Klebsiella in 5(12.8%) infants salmonella and staph aureus in 3 (7.6%)infants, for each. The commonest five organisms had low sensitivity to ampicillin, except Klebsiella which had high sensitivity to it. Coagulase negative staphylococci, salmonella, Klebsiella had a high sensitivity to gentamicin, while E. coli and Staph. aureus had low sensitivity to it. E. coli, Klebsiella and Staph. aureus had a high sensitivity to cloxacillin, while coagulase negative staphylococcus and Salmonella had low sensitivity to it. The mortality rate of the neonatal sepsis in this study was 8%. It is essential for every Neonatal Unit to monitor, its rate of infection and the organisms commonly encountered, as well as its sensitivity and resistance to the commonly used antibiotics, and several steps to control infections must be adopted.