title: Neonatal sepsis due to vertical transmission from maternal genital tract.
abstract: High vaginal swabs (HVS) of 1792 expectant mothers were sent for culture at the time of delivery, prior to first vaginal examination. The newborns were followed-up for development of superficial or deep infections. Appropriate cultures of the babies who developed infections were sent. Bacterial growth of predominantly gram-ve organisms was obtained in 1026 (57%) HVS. Infection developed in 48 (27%) babies in 1st 72 hours of life, of which 28 had deep infection while the rest had superficial infection. Vertical transmission of organisms was documented in 24 (1.3%) mother-baby dyads and the same was 72% in newborns who were at risk of developing sepsis by septicemia scoring, showing a significantly higher incidence of vertical transmission and subsequent sepsis in high risk newborns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ayengar
authors.lastname: Madhulika
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Vani
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000635:transmission; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012307:Risk Factors; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*