title: Audit of antibiotic therapy in surgical neonates in a tertiary hospital in Benin City, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the outcome of commonly used antibiotic combinations in surgical neonates in sub-Saharan African settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis that determines the outcome of commonly combined antibiotics in surgical neonates between January 2006 and December 2008 at two referral paediatric surgical centres in Benin city was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ampicillin ampiclox, metronidazole, gentamicin, cefuroxime and ceftriaxone were variously combined in the management of 161 neonates with a mean age at presentation of 9.2 ± 2.6 days, mean weight 3.1 ± 1.4 kg and a male:female ratio 1.6:1. Polymicrobial postoperative wound infections and sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Neisseria meningitidis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and anaerobes, were mainly encountered. The most common aerobes isolated from wound cultures were S. aureus and P. aeroginosa while the ones from that of blood cultures were E. coli and K. pneumonia. Overall postoperative infections recorded were: wound infection 19 (11.8%), sepsis 16 (9.9%) and sepsis-related deaths 6 (3.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combinations of gentamicin/metronidazole/cefuroxime and gentamicin/cefuroxime were adequate for gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal neonatal operations, respectively, in these sub-Saharan African settings, which may be useful in similar regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Benin, Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Leadekso@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Osarumwense David
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Osifo
authors.forename: Sylvester E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Aghahowa
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents