Bacterial Etiology and Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns of Early-Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis among Newborns in Shiraz, Iran 2004-2007

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of mortalityand morbidity, especially in developing countries. The goal ofthe present study was to determine the bacterial etiology andantibiotic sensitivity patterns of neonatal sepsis.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 208neonates admitted with clinically suspected sepsis over a periodof 30 months. Sepsis was divided into early onset sepsis(EOS, ≤5 days of age) and late onset sepsis (LOS, >5 days ofage). The two groups were further divided into proven (culturepositive ± abnormal markers) and probable (culture negative +abnormal markers) subgroups. Blood culture was performedusing Bactec.Results: Of 208 cases, 90 had neonatal sepsis consisting of 38(26 proven) presented as EOS and 52 (42 proven) as LOS. In theEOS, Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most common organismfollowed by klebsiella spp, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).As for LOS, Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) were themost common organism followed by Enterococcus spp, S.aureus. The antibiogram on the isolated E. coli and klebsiella spprevealed a greater combined sensitivity to cefotaxime. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and S. aureus had 100% and Enterococcusspp 90% sensitivity to vancomycin.Conclusion: Escherichia coli and CONS were the most commonorganisms causing EOS and LOS, respectively. Since theantibiotic sensitivity patterns of these organisms are changed,it seems necessary to conduct bacterial etiology studies and todetermine antibiotic sensitivity patterns periodically in orderto promote the empirical therapy.Iran J Med Sci 2010; 35(4): 293-298