Neonatal septicemia in tertiary hospitals in Konya, Turkey

DOI: 10.4328/JCAM.5774 Received: 19.02.2018 Accepted: 04.03.2018 Published Online: 09.03.2018 Printed: 01.05.2018 J Clin Anal Med 2018;9(3): 187-91 Corresponding Author: Nuriye Tarakcı, Department of Neonatology, Dr. Faruk SukanWomen andChildren’s Diseases Hospital, 42060 Konya, Turkey. T.: +90 3322380931 F.: +90 3322376025 E-Mail: nuriyetarakci@hotmail.com ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2444-4724 Abstract Aim: Neonatal sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the developing world. The present study aims to determine the incidence and risk factors of neonatal sepsis in a single center over a four-year period. Material and Method: This is a retrospective study of all cases of culture-proven neonatal sepsis admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit of a single center between January 2013 and December 2016. Clinical features, risk factors, microbiological and biochemical results, and mortality rates were recorded. Associations between risk factors and mortality were investigated. Results: The prevalence rate of neonatal sepsis was 2.7 per 1000 live births (94/30545) and 9.3 per 1000 neonatal admissions (94/10133). Low birth weight (≤ 2500g) was recorded in 79 (84%) neonates with sepsis. There was at least one risk factor in all cases. Gram-negative bacteria were more frequently isolated than gram-positive bacteria (63.8% (60/94) vs. 29.7% (28/94)). Klebsiella pneumonia was predominant in both early-onset sepsis and late-onset sepsis (53% (16/30), 29.7% (19/64) respectively). Late-onset sepsis episodes attributed to Klebsiella pneumonia were associated with the highest sepsis-related mortality (41.7%). Discussion: Klebsiella pneumonia was found to be the most common agent in neonatal sepsis and responsible for sepsis-related mortality in this study. Prevalence of neonatal sepsis, its pathogens and risk factors differ in different parts of the world. Region-specific strategies to prevent new infections should be encouraged.