Lumbar puncture in suspected neonatal sepsis

Objective: The importance of lumbar puncture (LP) as part of the evaluation of suspected neonatal sepsis is assessed, as it may be the only positive diagnostic test in about 10% of septic babies with meningitis but negative blood cultures. However, LP may compromise respiratory function, and the interpretation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may not be straightforward.
Conclusion: The clinical setting and the probability of meningitis are important determinants of the likely value of LP. For asymptomatic neonates with obstetric risk factors for sepsis, and for babies with early-onset respiratory distress alone, LP may be delayed and only performed later if blood cultures are positive. This is because hundreds of LP will be needed to diagnose a single case. However, infants with suspected late-onset sepsis should have an immediate LP because finding Gram-negative bacilli or fungi in the CSF will affect treatment choices.     

Early onset neonatal meningitis in Australia and New Zealand, 1992-2002

OBJECTIVES: To study the epidemiology of early onset neonatal bacterial meningitis (EONBM) in Australasia. DESIGN: Prospective surveillance study, 1992-2002, in 20 neonatal units in Australia and New Zealand. EONBM was defined as meningitis occurring within 48 hours of delivery. RESULTS: There were 852 babies with early onset sepsis, of whom 78 (9.2%) had EONBM. The incidence of early onset group B streptococcal meningitis fell significantly from a peak of 0.24/1000 live births in 1993 to 0.03/1000 in 2002 (p trend = 0.002). There was no significant change over time in the incidence of Escherichia coli meningitis. The rate of EONBM in very low birthweight babies was 1.09/1000 compared with the rate in all infants of 0.11/1000. The overall rate of EONBM was 0.41/1000 in 1992 and 0.06 in 2001, but this trend was not significant (p trend = 0.07). Case-fatality rates for EONBM did not change significantly with time. Birth weight <1500 g (odds ratio (OR) 7.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.8 to 10.9)) and Gram negative bacillary meningitis (OR 3.3 (95% CI 2.2 to 4.9)) were significant risk factors for mortality. Sixty two percent of the 129 babies who died from early onset sepsis or suspected sepsis did not have a lumbar puncture performed. CONCLUSION: The incidence of early onset group B streptococcal meningitis has fallen, probably because of maternal intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, without a corresponding change in E. coli meningitis. Gram negative bacillary meningitis still carries a worse prognosis than meningitis with a Gram positive organism.     

Late-onset infections of infants in neonatal units

Objective : To examine regional variations in the incidence of late-onset neonatal infections in Australian and New Zealand neonatal units.
Methodology : A longitudinal, prospective surveillance study of systemic sepsis (septicaemia or meningitis) in 11 neonatal units: 10 in the Australian States of the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, and 1 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The results are reported of late-onset neonatal infection (defined as sepsis after 48 h) for the second year of prospective surveillance, data being collected from 1 October 1992 to 30 September 1993.
Results : Data were available on 24 535 live births in Australia, representing approximately 10% of all live births in the country. There were 320 episodes of sepsis in Australian units affecting 294 babies. One hundred of these episodes (31%) were earty-onset; 3.0% of babies admitted to six tertiary care neonatal units attached to maternity hospitals developed late sepsis, and this rate did not differ between units. The proportion of babies infected was inversely related to birthweight: 22.6% of babies under 1000 g, but 0.6% over 2000 g. Coagulase negative staphylococci were the commonest cause of late-onset sepsis. There were 26 episodes of S. aureus septicaemia, of which only one was due to MRSA. Meningitis occurred in 13 babies (5.9%) with late-onset sepsis. The mortality from late-onset sepsis was 7.7%.
Conclusions : Coagulase-negative staphylococci are the commonest cause of late-onset sepsis of babies in neonatal units. There were no major regional differences in the incidence of, or the organisms causing, late sepsis.     

Neonatal bacterial sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit: A 5 year analysis

Objective : To study the pattern of neonatal sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during a 5 year period and assess the relationship between maternal risk factors and early onset sepsis (EOS).
Methodology : The study reported here was a retrospective analysis of 209 episodes of septicaemia and 5 episodes of bacterial meningitis in 198 newborn infants, 22 of whom died. Eighty-one infants had EOS (≤72h) and 117 infants had late onset sepsis (LOS >72 h). All infants had clinical evidence of sepsis, a computerized haematological score for sepsis of 4 or greater, and either treatment with antibiotics for 7 days or more or had earlier death due to sepsis. The organisms causing neonatal sepsis were analyzed according to the day of onset, gestational age, birthweight and year of infection.
Results : Sepsis occurred in 5.6 per 1000 live births and 3.8% of NICU admissions. There were 81 episodes of EOS and 128 of LOS. Coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS) 38.8%, group B Streptococcus (GBS) 20.1% and Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) 20.1% were the common causes of sepsis; and GBS (50.6%) and CONS (60.9%) were the most common organisms in EOS and LOS, respectively. The mean gestational age and birthweight were heigher in babies with EOS than compared with LOS. The higher likelihood of probable rather than definite infection in infants with EOS was related to more mothers in the EOS group receiving intrapartum antibiotics. GNB infection was more common in their babies.
Conclusions : GBS and CONS were the most common causes of EOS and LOS, respectively. The use of maternal intrapartum antibiotics interferes with neonatal blood culture results. Because blood cultures are not always positive in neonatal septicaemia, a combination of clinical, haematological and other microbiological evidence should be used when diagnosing neonatal septicaemia.     

Septicemic neonates without lumbar puncture: what are we missing?

Meningitis is a serious problem in newborn infants and has high mortality and frequent neurological sequelae. In neonates, signs and symptoms of serious infections are often obscure and clinical examination cannot distinguish septicemic babies with or without meningitis. Therefore, lumbar puncture is often not done in time and thus diagnosis of meningitis is missed. This study aimed to discover the prevalence of meningitis among these cases based on laboratory investigation. We prospectively enrolled the blood culture positive septicaemia cases which were not labeled as cases of meningitis during routine clinical evaluation. Out of 30 septicemic cases, eight (26.7%) had abnormal CSF cytology and biochemistry suggestive of meningitis. Among these eight cases, four had positive CSF culture; [Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1)], which were similar to the blood isolate of the respective patient. The clinical manifestations were similar in both septicemia and meningitis cases. Mortality was high among the meningitis cases compared with those having septicemia alone (37.5% vs. 13.3%), indicating the need for early diagnosis of this disease. Our data confirmed that it is important to do a lumbar puncture, along with blood culture, for all suspected septicemia cases.     

Epidemiology of neonatal sepsis in South Korea

Background:  Neonatal sepsis is a severe clinical syndrome characterized by systemic signs of infection, shock and system organ failure; diagnosis is confirmed on positive culture from a normally sterile site(s). There are few reports comparing incidence, mortality, and risk factors between clinically diagnosed sepsis and that confirmed by culture.
Methods:  All infants diagnosed with early- (within first 72 h after birth) or late-onset (72 h–4 weeks after birth) neonatal sepsis between 1997 and 1999 from four neonatal centers in South Korea, were investigated.
Results:  The estimated incidence rate of neonatal sepsis during the 3 years was 30.5 per 1000 live births for clinical sepsis and 6.1 per 1000 live births for sepsis with positive culture, with case-fatality rates of 4.7% and 2.2%, respectively. When only early-onset sepsis was considered, the incidence and fatality rates were 25.1 per 1000 live births and 6.1% for clinical sepsis, and 4.3 per 1000 live births and 2.5% for culture-confirmed sepsis, respectively. For the 179 patients (185 causative organisms) of proven sepsis, Staphylococcus spp. including S. aureus were the most frequent isolates. In early-onset clinical sepsis, having very low birthweight (≤1500 g), a low Apgar score at 5 min (≤7), and being male were related to higher rates of case-fatality (relative risk: 11.3, 6.8 and 2.5, respectively)
Conclusions:  Clinical sepsis was more common than culture-confirmed sepsis and had a higher case-fatality rate. It seems prudent to take rapid and decisive steps toward better management of the high-risk group whether the sepsis is clinically diagnosed or culture confirmed.     

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in neonatal meningitis in England: an analysis of national variations in CRP cut-offs for lumbar puncture

Background

Recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) CG149 guidelines suggest considering performing a lumbar puncture (LP) to investigate for meningitis in early-onset sepsis in a neonate when a C-reactive protein (CRP) level >10mg/L, but the evidence for this recommendation is poorly defined.

Methods

Data on trust-wide LP protocols, neonatal meningitis incidence, lumbar punctures, and CRP levels seen in cases of neonatal meningitis were asked of all 137 trusts in England that recorded a birth in 2017. Our local Kingston Hospital data on every LP performed was obtained to estimate the specificity of CRP rises.

Results

73/123 (59.3%) of trusts follow the NICE CG149 recommendation of considering an LP if the CRP >10mg/L. The national incidence of neonatal meningitis was 0.467/1,000 births, and an LP was performed in 1.37% of all babies, which was significantly higher in trusts considering the CRP > 10mg/L cut-off. A CRP > 10mg/L cut-off sensitivity was 88.9% based on the highest CRP level 4 days around the LP from national data of 199 cases; specificity was 78.8% based on our single-unit analysis.

Conclusions

Proposing a universal CRP > 10mg/L cut-off for a lumbar puncture has been counter-productive in England. Following it generates significantly more LPs, to the point that 40.7% of trusts have chosen not to follow it. It also has poor sensitivity missing over 11% of meningitis. We therefore do not recommend a universal cut-off, rather considering the whole clinical picture (including prematurity) when considering whether to do an LP.

     

The changing spectrum of neonatal meningitis over a fifteen-year period.

One hundred seventy-seven cases of neonatal meningitis treated at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston over a 15-year period (1974-1988) were reviewed. Over this period, the incidence of bacterial meningitis decreased, the incidence of aseptic meningitis remained stable, and the diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis increased in frequency. During 1984-1988, enterovirus was the most common cause of meningitis in neonates older than seven days and accounted for one third of all cases of neonatal meningitis. Half of all neonates with bacterial meningitis had negative blood cultures. We recommend that 1) diagnostic lumbar puncture remain part of the routine assessment of the neonate with suspected sepsis, and 2) CSF be cultured for enterovirus as well as for bacteria when a neonate older than seven days presents with suspected sepsis.     

Clinical indicators for lumbar puncture

This study was conducted to demonstrate that experienced pediatricians using standard clinical indications for performing a lumbar puncture should have a higher yield of positive spinal taps than previously reported and also can detect bacterial meningitis. These indicators included temperature elevation, inability to be consoled, level of alertness, nuchal rigidity, bulging fontanel, decreased appetite, rash, referral, and febrile seizures. Eighty-two of 381 (22%) lumbar punctures were positive for pleocytosis and/or organisms. Patients were divided into two groups, consisting of those with one indicator (low risk) and those with greater than one indicator (high risk). Thirteen of 14 patients with bacterial meningitis were placed in the high risk group. The single patient in the low risk group had been pretreated with antibiotics. The positive predictive value in bacterial meningitis for a score greater than one was 5%. The average number of clinical indicators in bacterial meningitis was 3.7, versus 2.4 in viral meningitis and 1.6 without meningitis. These findings suggest that, in the absence of prior antibiotic therapy, an experienced pediatrician can clinically detect patients at high risk for bacterial meningitis. Nonbacterial meningitis cannot be as readily detected clinically.     

Cerebrospinal fluid values in very low birth weight infants with suspected sepsis at different ages.

OBJECTIVES: Lumbar puncture can be an essential part of the septic work-up in premature infants who are at risk for sepsis and meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) values for cell counts, protein concentrations, and glucose concentrations in children and full-term infants are well established. CSF values in premature infants, however, have not been well studied. We sought to determine CSF values in very low birth weight premature infants at different ages (birth, postmenstrual age, and postnatal age). DESIGN: Medical records of all very low birth weight premature infants with suspected sepsis who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit between 1991 and 2005 were reviewed. Infants were excluded if they had evidence of intraventricular hemorrhage, sepsis/meningitis, or major congenital abnormalities or had a traumatic lumbar puncture. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Patients were 455 infants who underwent lumbar puncture. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Medical records of 455 infants who underwent 648 lumbar punctures were reviewed. Of these, 243 infants met our inclusion criteria, and 88 patients underwent lumbar puncture only at birth. Patients' mean gestational age and birth weight were 28.8 +/- 2.6 wks and 1080 +/- 279 g, respectively. There were no correlations between gestational age and CSF white blood cell (WBC) count or between gestational age and CSF protein concentrations at birth. CSF WBC count remained unchanged at different postmenstrual ages. However, CSF protein concentration decreased with advancing postmenstrual age (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, r = -.29; p < .01), and both CSF WBC count and CSF protein concentration decreased with advancing postnatal age (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, r = -.319 and r = -.376, respectively; p < .01). A subgroup analysis revealed differences in CSF WBC count and CSF protein concentrations between infants who had a lumbar puncture at birth, at 2 wks, and at 3 wks of life at the same postmenstrual age. CONCLUSIONS: In very low birth weight premature infants, CSF WBC count and CSF protein concentrations vary with advancing postnatal and postmenstrual ages.     

Meningitis following lumbar puncture in bacteremia?

We report on two infants with bacteremia and the clinical signs of meningitis who developed overt meningitis following an extended period after the first lumbar puncture, in which inconspicuous (cytological and bacteriological) cerebrospinal fluid were found. The causative infective agents of bacteremia and meningitis were identical. The iatrogenic induction of meningitis by the procedure of lumbar puncture in the presence of a bacteremia is imaginable, but has not been proven. Diagnostic consequences are: Every lumbar puncture for bacterial meningitis has to be complemented with a simultaneous blood culture. Lumbar puncture should be repeated when clinical signs of meningitis persists in children, especially in infants with positive blood culture and with inconspicuous cerebrospinal fluid findings in the initial lumbar puncture. Such children should be hospitalized for clinical observation. Therapeutical consequences are presently unclear. Proven recommendations are lacking for the different possible procedures after initial lumbar puncture in children with suspicion of a bacteremia: for instance no therapy or one single antibiotic dose given i.v. immediately following the lumbar puncture or the same treatment as in proven meningitis until microbiological results are obtained.     

新生儿化脓性脑膜炎的临床特点与早期诊断

目的探讨新生儿化脓性脑膜炎的临床特点与早期诊断方法。方法选择2010年3月-2011年12月就诊于本院新生儿科疑似化脓性脑膜炎患儿100例,均于本院应用抗生素前行腰椎穿刺术,留取脑脊液(CSF)标本行常规、生化检测及培养,同时留取CSF 1 mL行PCR检测16 S rRNA。结果临床诊断为化脓性脑膜炎者40例,其中发热36例(90%),惊厥29例(72.5%),呼吸暂停5例(12.5%),前囟饱满23例(57.5%)。临床诊断为化脓性脑膜炎40例患儿,其CSF PCR检测均为阳性。CSF培养阳性5例,该5例CSF参数异常,PCR检测均呈阳性。PCR检测16 S rRNA阳性58例,PCR阳性率明显高于CSF培养、CSF参数(χ2=65.09,P=0.00;χ2=6.48,P=0.01)。结论新生儿化脓性脑膜炎临床特点不典型,CSF检查存在一定局限性,CSF培养阳性率低,结合PCR检测能提高阳性率。     

Bacterial profile of sepsis in a neonatal unit in south India

OBJECTIVE: To study the pattern of sepsis in a neonatal unit in south India and assess the influence of maternal factors on early onset sepsis (EOS). DESIGN: Prospective survey from 1995-1996. SETTING: Medical College Hospital. SUBJECTS: All inborn babies who had clinical signs of sepsis or were born to mothers with potential risk factors for infection were screened for sepsis. Neonatal septicemia was defined as a disease of infants who were younger than 1 month of age, were clinically ill, and had positive blood cultures. RESULTS: Among 13,367 live births in the study period, there were 131 episodes of neonatal septicemia among 125 newborn infants, 18 (14.4%) of whom died. Thirty (24%) had EOS (< or = 48 hours) and 95 (76%) had late onset sepsis (LOS) (> or = 48 hours). Sepsis occurred in 9.8 per 1000 livebirths and 4.4% of all nursery admissions. E. coli and E. fecalis were the predominant organisms causing EOS, while Klebsiella and E. fecalis were the predominant organisms in LOS. The mean gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) of babies with EOS was significantly higher than those with LOS. Maternal factors significantly associated with EOS were meconium staining of liquor and multiple vaginal examinations. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of neonatal bacterial sepsis is 9.8 per 1000 livebirths. E. coli and Klebsiella were the most common organisms causing EOS and LOS, respectively. E. fecalis was also a major pathogen, both in EOS and LOS.     

Late and ultra late onset Streptococcus B meningitis: clinical and bacteriological data over 6 years in France

Background:  Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the leading causes of sepsis and meningitis in newborn. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of GBS meningitis in children aged between 7 and 89 days (late onset disease – LOD group) and to compare them with children aged more than 3 months (ultra late onset disease – ULOD group).
Methods: Clinical and biological data were gathered by ACTIV/GPIP (a nationwide active surveillance network). The study population included 242 children hospitalized between 2001 and 2006 for GBS meningitis (220 in the LOD group and 22 in the ULOD group).
Results:  Univariate analysis revealed that gestational age (GA) was significantly lower in the ULOD group as compared with the LOD group (respectively 35.6 weeks vs. 37.9 weeks, p = 0.002). Prevalence of early preterm birth (before the 32nd week GA) was significantly higher in the ULOD group than in the LOD group (32% vs. 7%, p = 0.002). No significant difference was found between the two groups for biological characteristics of lumbar puncture, GBS serotypes, complications and survival rate.
Conclusion: These data suggest that LOD and ULOD would be the same clinical and bacteriological entity, except for prematurity, which seems significantly associated with ULOD.     

Risk factors and ultrasonographic profile of posterior fossa haemorrhages in preterm infants

Aims:   While preterm infants are known to be at risk of intracranial haemorrhages, advances in ultrasound imaging of preterm babies have facilitated recognition of presence of haemorrhages in the posterior fossa, which include cerebellar and Cisterna Magna haemorrhages. There are limited data on the profile and predisposing risk factors. The objective was to identify antenatal, intrapartum and post-natal risk factors for and to define the clinical spectrum.
The study was designed as a retrospective case-control study in the setting of a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit. Preterm babies ≤30 weeks gestation age admitted between January 2005 and December 2006, with an ultrasound diagnosis of posterior fossa haemorrhage and an equal number of controls matched for gestation age, gender and month of birth with normal cranial scans were selected. Systematic chart and radiographic review was done. All cranial ultrasounds in both groups were reviewed.
Results:   Eighteen babies had documented posterior fossa haemorrhage (13 cerebellar, 5 isolated Cisterna Magna, 10 both), the median time of detection being 2.5 days. Eleven babies had either no or grade I/II supratentorial bleeds, while half of all cerebellar bleeds were bilateral. All haemorrhages were visualised from mastoid view and none from anterior fontanel. On univariate analysis, multiple gestations, lack of antenatal steroids, foetal heart rate abnormalities, need for volume expanders and cardiotrophins and sepsis were associated with a higher risk for having posterior fossa bleeds.
Conclusions:   Posterior fossa haemorrhages in preterm babies are being increasingly recognised. Antenatal, intrapartum and post-natal factors may predispose towards haemorrhages in the cerebellum or Cisterna Magna.     

Routine lumbar punctures in the newborn — are they justified?

The records of 62,107 neonates cared for at three neonatal referral units between 1979 and 1985 were analysed with regard to the number of lumbar punctures (LP) performed and the results obtained. The mean perinatal mortality rate was 9.3/1000 live births and the neonatal mortality rate was 5.9/1000. The units were comparible in this respect. Two hundred and sixty three (0.4%) babies weighed less than 1.0 kg at birth and 510 (0.8%) babies weighed 1.0–1.5 kg. A total of 1554 LPs were performed on 1084 babies, 1.7% of the whole population. Seventeen babies were diagnosed as having meningitis following CSF examination; 5 weighed less than 1.5 kg (VLBW) (incidence of meningitis 6.5/100 births) and 12 weighed more than 1.5 kg (incidence 0.2/1000 live births). An LP was performed on 44% of VLBW babies and 1.2% of babies weighing more than 1.5 kg. In both groups approximately 1.5% of CSF samples were positive. Eight of the 17 positive results were obtained during the first 3 postnatal days. Only one VLBW baby had meningitis on the 1st day of life (1.3/1000). In view of the low incidence of meningitis and the risk factors associated with an LP it is questionable whether this procedure should be a routine investigation in the VLBW newborn.     

Clinical features of neonatal sepsis caused by resistant Gram-negative bacteria

Background:  Clinical features and outcomes of neonatal sepsis caused by resistant Gram-negative bacteria are not well described in Jordan. The aim of the present study was therefore to describe microbiology and clinical features, laboratory findings and outcomes of early- and late-onset Gram-negative neonatal sepsis.
Methods:  All patients with Gram-negative bacteremia between July 2003 and June 2005 were retrospectively included. Resistance profiles, clinical features and outcomes of early and late-onset neonatal sepsis were compared.
Results:  A total of 79 patients (after excluding all nine cases of Gram-positive bloodstream infection (BSI) were identified as having Gram-negative BSI (25 had early-onset and 54 had late-onset neonatal sepsis). Respiratory distress, metabolic acidosis and requirement of ventilation were found in 74.7%, 40.5%, and 58.2%, respectively. Hypotension was found in 22.9% of patients. Klebsiella pneumoniae was responsible for 43 cases (54.4.2%). Klebsiella pneumoniae resistance rates to ampicillin and ceftazidime were 100% and 50%, respectively. Mortality rate was 30.9%. Forty-eight percent of deaths occurred within 3 days of sepsis. Meningitis was diagnosed in five cases. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and thrombocytopenia were seen in 28% and 24% of infants with early-onset sepsis, respectively, and in 79.6%, 59.3% of infants with late-onset sepsis respectively.
Conclusion:  Both early- and late-onset neonatal sepsis are caused by highly resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Mortality of sepsis is high. Elevated CRP and thrombocytopenia is seen more commonly in late-onset neonatal sepsis.     

A ten year,multicentre study of coagulase negative staphylococcal infections in Australasian neonatal units

OBJECTIVE: To study late onset systemic infections with coagulase negative staphylococci. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study of coagulase negative staphylococcal infection in 18 Australasian neonatal nurseries. RESULTS: From 1991 to 2000 inclusive, there were 1281 cases of coagulase negative staphylococcal (CoNS) sepsis, comprising 57.1% of all late onset infections. The male/female ratio was 1.27:1 (p < 0.05). The incidence of CoNS sepsis was 3.46 episodes per 1000 live births. Most infected babies (71%) were 24-29 weeks gestation at birth (mode 26 weeks). The first positive culture was day 7-14 in 49% of babies (mode 10 days). Five cases of meningitis were reported, an incidence of 0.4% of all CoNS infections. Twenty nine babies (2.3%) had concurrent necrotising enterocolitis and CoNS septicaemia. Four babies (0.3%) died from CoNS infection, but CoNS infection possibly contributed to the death of an additional 20 babies (1.6%). The mortality directly attributable to CoNS infection was significantly lower than that from late onset infections with Staphylococcus aureus (13.1%; relative risk (RR) = 36.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 13.0 to 100.2) or with Gram negative bacilli (14.2%; RR = 45.5 (95% CI 16.8 to 123.3)). CONCLUSIONS: CoNS are currently responsible for most late onset neonatal infections. Most infected babies are < 30 weeks gestation at birth, and usually present between 7 and 14 days of age. CoNS infections may be associated with necrotising enterocolitis, although causality is unproven. Neonatal CoNS infections are relatively benign: meningitis is rare and mortality low compared with infection from other organisms. Over-vigorous attempts to reduce the incidence of CoNS infections using prophylactic antibiotics are not advisable.     

Multidrug resistant neonatal sepsis in Peshawar,Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the spectrum of organisms causing neonatal sepsis in Peshawar, Pakistan and to assess their sensitivity to various groups of drugs. METHODS: Blood taken from newborn babies admitted to the special care baby unit at the Khyber Teaching Hospital with a clinical diagnosis of neonatal sepsis was cultured. The data obtained from October 1997 to December 2000 were analysed and the results tabulated. RESULTS: A total of 1598 blood cultures were taken; 1003 were positive (positivity rate 62.8%). Escherichia coli was the most common organism found (36.6%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (29.5%), Pseudomonas (22.4%), Klebsiella (7.6%), and Proteus (3.8%). No group B streptococcus was grown. Listeria monocytogenes was found in one cerebrospinal fluid culture. E coli and Pseudomonas showed a high degree of resistance to commonly used antibiotics (ampicillin, augmentin, and gentamicin), a moderate degree of resistance to cephalosporin (cefotaxime, ceftzidime, and ceftrioxone), and low resistance to drugs not used for newborn babies (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and enoxabid). S aureus showed a low resistance to all three groups of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Neonatal sepsis remains one of the leading causes of neonatal admission, morbidity, and mortality in developing countries. Gram negative organisms are the major cause of neonatal sepsis in Peshawar. Such organisms have developed multidrug resistance, and management of patients infected with them is becoming a problem in developing countries.     

Prevalence and clinical significance of cardiac murmurs in neonates.

AIM: To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of murmurs detected during routine neonatal examination. METHODS: In a two year prospective study, 7204 newborn babies underwent routine examination by senior house officers. All those with murmurs underwent echocardiographic examination. All babies presenting later in infancy were also identified, to ascertain the total prevalence of congenital heart disease in infancy. RESULTS: Murmurs were detected in 46 babies (0.6%) of whom 25 had a cardiac malformation. The most common diagnosis was a ventricular septal defect, although four babies had asymptomatic left heart outflow obstruction. A further 32 infants from the same birth cohort had a normal neonatal examination but were found to have a cardiac malformation before 12 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: The neonatal examination detects only 44% of cardiac malformations which present in infancy. If a murmur is heard there is a 54% chance of there being an underlying cardiac malformation. Parents and professionals should be aware that a normal neonatal examination does not preclude a clinically significant cardiac malformation. The detection of a murmur should prompt early referral to a paediatric cardiologist for diagnosis or appropriate reassurance.