An evaluation of patients with culture-proven sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit

Objective: Despite in diagnosis, treatment and the development of the neonatal intensive care, neonatal sepsis continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate that having followed and treated in neonates with culture-proven sepsis. Methods: Between September 2012 -2014, the retrospective analysis was performed in the diagnosis of neonatal patients with culture-proven sepsis. For this purpose, 52 patients who had been diagnosed with culture-proven sepsis were admitted in the study. Results: The mean gestational age of patients was 32,75±1,45 weeks, and the average weight was 1895±516,49 grams. The patients were 35 (67.3%) premature and 17 (32.7%) term newborn. From sum of 1641 patients in our study had been diagnosed with sepsis 137 patients (8%), and 52 of them (3.2%) had a diagnosis of proven sepsis in patients with culture. Growth rate in culture for clinical sepsis patients were 38% (52/137). They were diagnosed 3 patients (5.8%) early neonatal sepsis and 49 (94,2%) patients late neonatal sepsis. Retraction was the most common finding 50% (26/52), bradycardia second 42.3% (22/52) and feeding intolerance the third 38.5% (20/52) were other common findings. The first three agents in positive blood cultures were Coagulase-negative staphylococci 46.1% (24/52), Klebsiella pneumoniae 21.2% (11/52) and Escherichia coli 9.6% (5/52). Conclusion: Blood culture results obtained may vary between units and also vary in sensitivity to antimicrobial therapy. Therefore, each unit should establish treatment strategies for sepsis in units according to the culture results are obtained.