Profile of Bacterialisolates in Neonatal Sepsis and Their Drug Resistance Pattern in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background Neonatal septicemia is responsible for approximately 25 % of the neonatal deaths in the world and mostly in developing countries. Increased prevalence of extended spectrum betalactamases (ESBLS) and methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multiple drug resistant (MDR) strains is a cause of concern in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) worldwide. Objectives, The study aims to find out the bacteriological profile in neonatal sepsis and to study their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern including detection of MRSA and ESBLs. Materials and methods The study is based on a prospective analysis of all cases admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU) of a tertiary care hospital, Hassan. Results, In our study out of 250 patients studied, 170 showed blood culture positive, positivity rate being 68 %. Gram-negative organisms were isolated in 98 cases (58 %), Gram-positive in 72 cases (42 %). In gram-negative isolates, 24 cases (14 %) were ESBL producers. Methicillin resistance in S. aureus was seen in 15cases (30 %). Conclusion, Blood culture is the gold standard in diagnosis and treatment of neonatal septicemia. Multiple antibiotic resistances among neonatal sepsis are currently one of the greatest challenges to the effective management of infections. Therefore, we suggest that surveillance of antimicrobial resistance is necessary.