Neonatal sepsis in Jamaican neonates.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and causative organisms of bacterial sepsis in neonates at The University Hospital of the West Indies.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all neonates with culture-proven sepsis admitted to the hospital between January 1995 and December 2000 was conducted. Incidence rates and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined.


RESULTS
There were 4702 admissions to the neonatal unit during the study period. Of these, 135 had culture-proven sepsis and 115 were inborn, giving an incidence of 6.7/1000 live births. There were 89 positive blood cultures, 51 positive urine cultures and two positive CSF cultures. The single most common organism was Klebsiella spp (28%). Other organisms included Escherichia coli (16%), group B Streptococcus (11%) and Enterobacter spp (10%). The aminoglycoside resistance rate of Klebsiella spp was 46% and seven isolates had multiple resistance to antibiotics. There was a case fatality rate of 6.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians involved in newborn care at The University Hospital of the West Indies need to recognise the important role Klebsiella now plays in neonatal sepsis and its contribution to neonatal mortality. Empirical antibiotic regimens for gram-negative sepsis must take into consideration the high rates of aminoglycoside resistance that are now prevalent.
Bell
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Child Health, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
Barton
M
M
Thame
M
M
Nicholson
A
A
Trotman
H
H
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents