AbstractBackground: Neonatal infections still forms a significant burden to the health system of low and middle income countries (LMIC), as it increases hospital stay, number of interventions and poor Neuro developmental outcome. The burden of neonatal sepsis in our country from a hospital based study is 30%. We try study the burden and contribution of various risk factors for neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care referral centre in south India.
Methodology: We collected retrospective perinatal data of all neonates admitted in our unit from 01 Jul 2016 – 30 Jun 2017 who had a discharge or death diagnosis of sepsis. We classified our data based on predetermined case definitions for our study.
Statistics Analysis: Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study. Results on continuous measurements are presented on Mean±SD (Min-Max) and results on categorical measurements are presented in Number (%). Chi-square/ Fisher Exact test has been used to find the significance of study parameters on categorical scale.
Results and Conclusion: Our sepsis rates are 41.6 per 1000 live births.Our study had predominantly EONS of 30.8 per 1000 live births. Male Gender, Low Birth Weight, Preterm, babies born to mothers with risk factors are important risk factors for sepsis and related mortality. 38.3% babies from our study cohort were culture positive, contributing 48.5% of sepsis related mortality. Klebsiella species predominates both EONS & LONS. Ultra rapid horizontal spread might be the main cause of neonatal sepsis. Prevention is the key to combat Neonatal Sepsis.
Keywords: Neonatal Sepsis; Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis; Klebsiella Sepsis; Culture Positive.