West Boma Awoala and Tabansi Petronilla Nnenna
Sepsis remains a significant cause of neonatal deat hs and its incidence remains unacceptably high in developing countries. Despite diagnostic and therap eutic advances, early and late onset sepsis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality ; thus a high index of suspicion is essential for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. To determine the clinico-bacteriological profile of early and la te onset sepsis, its incidence and predisposing factor s at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. A prospective study of neonate with sympt oms/signs, or predisposing factors to sepsis was carried out over 6 months. Blood culture was used a s gold standard for diagnosis. 406 neonates were studied; 169(41.6%) had positive blood culture. The re were 120(71.0%) neonates with EOS and 49(29.0%) with LOS. The incidence of EOS and LOS wa s 24.9/1000 and 14.6/1000 live births respectively. Out-born delivery (71.7%) was the com monest predisposing factor to sepsis. Respiratory distress (41.7%) and poor suck (24.2%) were predominant features of EOS while fever (46.9%) and jaundice (32.7%) were observed in LOS. Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus were the commonest organisms implicated in both EO S and LOS. The incidence of EOS is high at UPTH. Early diagnosis for prompt interventi on is keyed to avoid mortality.
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