Abstract
A study of 92 consecutive cases of neonatal septicenia showed incidence of clinical and bacteriological positive septicemia of 10·97 and 6·55 per 1,000 live-births respectively. Blood culture was positive in 59·8% cases of which 76·3% showed Gram negative organisms like klebsiella, E. coli, citrobacter, pseudomonas and 23·7% Gram positive organisms predominantly staphylococci and streptococci. Only one anaerobic peptococcus was isolated. 68·5% cases had membrane rupture more than 24 hours before delivery. 70% cases developed septicemia within 5 days. Refusal of feeds, lethargy, diarrhea, hypothermia, abdominal distention and jaundice were the major presenting features. Respiratory distress, apnoeic spells, convulsion, sclerema were bad prognostic features. Gentamycin and cloxacillin were the drugs of choice for combating Gram negative and positive organisms respectively. All cases were resistant to ampicillin. Chloramphenicol showed better result than kanamycin. The overall mortality was 57·6%. Male sex, prematurity, LBW and Gram negative infection were associated with higher incidence and mortality.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chatterjee BD, Chakraborty CK. Characteristics of non-clostridial anaerobes isolated from perforating ulcer of foot, a preliminary report.Bull Cal School Trop Med 1983;21: 3–4
Cowan ST, Steel KJ.Manual for the identification of medical bacteria. Cambridge University Press, 1965
Freedman RM, Ingram DL, Gross I, Ehrenkranz RA. A half century of neonatal sepsis at yale.Amer J Dis Child 1981;13: 140–144
Chowdhury P, Srivastava G, Agarwal DS, Saini I, Gupta S. Bacteriological study of neonatal infection.Indian Pediatr 1975;12: 459–463
Guha DK, Dalbir J, Krishna MS, Guha AR, Khatri RL, Srikumar R. Outcome of neonatal septicemia: a clinical and bacteriological profile.Indian Pediatr 1978;15: 423–427
Singh M. Nosocomial bacterial infection among newborn babies.Indian J Pediatr 1978;45: 313–317
Gotoff SP, Behrman RE. Neonatal septicemia.J Pediatr 1970;76: 142–153
McCracken GH, Shinefield HR. Changes in the pattern of neonatal septicemia and meningitis.Amer J Dis Child 1966,112: 33–39
Chow AW, Leake RD, Yamanchi T, Anthony BF, Guze LB. The significance of anaerobes in neonatal bacteriemia.Pediatr 1974;54: 736–745
Schaffer AJ. Septicemia.Diseases of the newborn. 4th ed. Philadelphia. W.B. Saunders Company. 1977; pp 776
Somu N, Shetty MV, Moses LG, Subramaniam L, Raju VB. A critical analysis of septicemia in infancy.Indian Pediatr 1976;13: 443–450
Saxena S, Anand NK, Mittal SK. Bacterial infection among home delivered neonates. Clinical picture and bacteriological profile.Indian Pediatr 1980;17: 17–24
Siegel JD, McCracken GH Jr. Group D Streptococcal infection.J Pediatr 1978;93: 542–543
Bavikatte K, Schreiner RL, Lemons JA, Gresham EL. Group D streptococcal septicemia in the neonate.Amer J Dis Child 1979;113: 493–496
Hemming VG, Overall JC, Britt MR. Nosocomiol infection in a newborn intensive care unit.N Eng J Med 1976;294: 1310–1316
Bhakoo ON, Agarwal KC, Narang A, Bhattacharjee S. Prognosis and the treatment of neonatal septicemia—a clinicobacterial study of 100 cases.Indian Pediatr 1974;11: 519–528
Buetow KC, Klein SW, Lane RB. Septicemia in premature infants.Amer J Dis Child 1965;110: 29–41
Baker CJ. Group B streptococcal infection.Adv Intern Med 1980;25: 475–479
Gluck L, Wood HF, Fousek MD. Septicemia in the newborn.Pediatr Clin North Amer 1966;13: 1131–1147
Hobbs JR, Davies JA. Serum gammaglobulin level and gestational age in premature babies.Lancet 1967;1: 757–759
Hardy JB, McCracken GH, Mellitis EH, Gilkeson MB, Sever JN. Serum immunoglobulin level in newborn infants.J Pediatr 1969;75: 1211–1223
Yeung CY, Hobbs JR. Serum YG globulin level in normal, premature, postmature and small for date newborn babies.Lancet 1968;1: 1167–1170
Chandra RK. Fetal malnutrition and postnatal immunocompetence.Amer J Dis Child 1975;129: 450–454
Harris MC, Polin RA. Neonatal septicemia.Pediatr Clin North Amer 1983;30: 243–258
Alexander JB, Giacoia GP. Early onset nonenterococcal Gr. D. Streptococoal infection in the newborn infant.J Pediatr 1978;93: 489–490
Battisti O, Michison R, Davies PA. Changing blood culture isolate in a referral neonatal intensive care unit.Arch Dis Child 1981;56: 775–778
Dunkle IM, Brotherton TJ, Feigin RD. Anaerobic infection in children: A prospective study.Pediatr 1976;57: 311–316
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khatua, S.P., Das, A.K., Chatterjee, B.D. et al. Neonatal septicemia. Indian J Pediatr 53, 509–514 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02749537
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02749537