Neonatal septicaemia, bacterial isolates and antibiogram sensitivity in Maiduguri North-Eastern Nigeria.
The aim and objective of the study was to determine the incidence, bacterial isolates and the antibiogram sensitivity of the isolates in neonates with septicaemia.



The neonates with clinical diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia (NNS) were consecutively enrolled into our special care baby unit. The patients were investigated including blood cultures, cerebrospinal fluid cultures and urine among others. Data were analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).



Forty-six neonates (42.0%) had a positive blood culture, while 64 (58.0%) were blood culture-negative. Eighteen (39.1%) of those septicaemic neonates with positive blood culture were inborn, while 28 (60.9%) were outborn. The incidence of NNS was 5.9/1000 live births. The male-to-female ratio among septicaemic neonates was 1.9:1. The common risk factors for NNS were prolonged rupture of membrane, prematurity and low socioeconomic status of parents among others. Common clinical features were fever, poor feeding, excessive crying, tachypnoea and hepatomegaly. Staphylococcus aureus 16 (69.6%) and Streptococcus pyogenes 5 (21.8%) were the predominant Gram-positive organisms isolated whereas Escherichia coli 9 (39.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae 7 (30.4%) were the predominant Gram-negative organisms isolated. S. aureus was sensitive to cephalosporins and quinolones, but resistant to penicillins. E. coli and K. pneumoniae showed a high resistance (16.7% and 25.6%, respectively) to commonly used aminoglycoside such as gentamycin.



The burden of NNS was high with high mortality in the study centre. The sensitivity pattern had remarkably changed; however, a combination of cephalosporins such as cefuroxime and gentamycin is still a good option.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Simon
S
Pius
Department of Paediatrics, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Mustapha
M
Bello
Department of Clinical Microbiology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Gadzama Balla
GB
Galadima
Department of Paediatrics, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Halima A
HA
Ibrahim
Department of Pharmacology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Samuel Timothy
ST
Yerima
Department of Paediatrics, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Jose Pwavimbo
JP
Ambe
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009549:Nigeria; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents