TRENDS IN PATTERNS OF RESISTANCE AMONG MICRO ORGANISMS CAUSING NEONATAL SEPSIS IN PESHAWAR

Objective: To report the spectrum and patterns of resistance among micro organisms causing neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care neonatal setting.Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted in Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) Department of Child Health and Microbiology Section Department of Pathology, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar from March 2008 to January 2009. 1000 Blood cultures were taken, using standard methods, from neonates with a clinical diagnosis of sepsis. The cultures were incubated and sensitivity to various antibiotics was tested by standard disc diffusion Technique .Result: The culture positivity rate was 11.1%. E. coli was the most common organism found in 44 (39.63%) cases, followed by Klebsiella (n= 21 18.91%), Staph aures (n=18, 16.21%), Staph Epidermises (n = 16, 14.41%), Pseudomonas (n = 12, 10.81%). None of the cultures was positive for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Listeria. Among the isolates there was low sensitivity (+) to ampicillin, good sensitivity (++) to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, and maximum sensitivity (+ + +) to amikacin, quinolones and imipenem. Majority of the organisms were resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Conclusion: Gram negative organisms remain the major cause of neonatal sepsis in tertiary care units. Majority of these organisms are resistant to commonly used antibiotics.