Age-Specific Bacteriological Profile of Pediatric Septicemia; A Population- Based Study

Septicemia is a life-threatening condition particularly among pediatric population. Early initiating a proper empiric antimicrobial treatment prior to definite isolation of the pathogen through blood culture has pivotal role in reducing further mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological properties of a distinct Iranian population by patients’ age and gender throughout the year. Materials and Methods As a retrospective study between March 2013 and March 2017, all consecutive patients referred to the Hazrat Masumeh hospital of Qom-Iran with suspicious of septicemia were reviewed. Patients with prior history of antibiotic consumption as well as patients over 6 years of age were excluded; incomplete hospital records were also excluded from further evaluations. Prespecified data-extraction forms were used to collect data including characteristics of patients and the results of antibiogram. Results Total of 378 patients were enrolled in this study and 200 of them were boys (52.91%). Escherichia coli (11.6%) and Klebsiella (9.5%) were the most common isolated pathogens (Gram-negative) after coagulase-negatives. Escherichia coli, Citrobacter (Gram-negative), and Staph. Aureus (Gram-positive) were the most common pathogens among age group of 0-1 year. Winter had the greatest outbreak of bacteremia (29.1%) and the autumn had the least incidence (21.4%). The least and the most antimicrobial resistance were associated with Imipenem (1.8%) and Ampicillin (78.78%), respectively. Conclusion Escherichia coliand Klebsiella were the most common isolated bacteria in patients suspected to bacteremia in our region. Imipenem and Ampicillin had the least and the most antimicrobial resistance in our population, respectively.