Vol. 6, Issue 8, Part D (2020)

The present investigation is based on a prospective analysis of 738 suspected neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of different hospitals in Akola city, Maharashtra over a period from Jan 2014 to Jan 2017. In this study, 738 positive blood culture isolates were processed in accordance with standard laboratory techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method according to Clinical and laboratory standard institution (CLSI) recommendations.

Gram positive organisms (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus (CONS), Streptococcus agalecticus, Aerococcus spp.) and Gram negative organisms (Klebsiella Pneumoniae, E. coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., Enterobacter spp. and Salmonella spp.) are the leading cause of neonatal sepsis in this study.

In present investigation, gram positive isolates exhibited high sensitivity against Imipenem and Meropenem followed by Amikacin, Gentamicin and Vancomycin where as high resistance was observed against commonly used antibiotics: Penicillin, Ampicillin, Norfloxacin and Amoxycillin. S. epidermidis(CONS) prevalent isolate amongst the gram positive organisms had high sensitivity to Imipenem, Meropenem and exhibited high resistance to commonly used antibiotics, Gram negative organisms had good sensitivity to Imipenem and Meropenem followed by Amikacin and Gentamicin. High resistance was noted against Penicillin, Ampicillin and Norfloxacin. E. coli, prevalent isolates amongst the gram negative organisms exhibited high susceptibility to Imipenem, Meropenem, Amikacin and Gentamicin.

It is concluded that all bacterial pathogens have emerged as the predominant pathogens responsible for neonatal sepsis which were resistant to commonly used antibiotics and multi drug resistant (MR).

Results of this study suggest resistance pattern of microorganisms responsible for neonatal infections and are helpful to design a specific empirical antibiotic regimen