The Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Neonatal Sepsis in Tertiary Hospital in Sylhet

Abstract

Background: Despite significant attempts to mitigate its effects, neonatal sepsis is regarded as a major cause of morbidity and death in newborns. Objective: In this study our main goal is to evaluate the clinical and laboratory profile of neonatal sepsis in Bangladesh. Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out at tertiary medical college and hospital Sylhet, where 50 neonates suspected of having neonatal sepsis and admitted in the neonatal unit was included. Clinical sepsis was diagnosed based on presence of one or more of clinical features. Clinical features considered were fever (≥38.0°C), hypothermia (≤36.5°C), convulsions, lethargy, poor feeding, respiratory distress, vomiting, bulging fontanels, jaundice, and umbilical pus infections. Results: During the study 46% cases belong to 15-21 days and majority were female, 88%. While evaluating the hygiene status, 82% cases undergone poor hygiene status, followed by 48% had poor cord care, 78% were feed formula and 20% cases used bottle. According to birth weight, 6% cases were very low birth weight and 37% cases had low birth weight. Besides that, cough was shown 51.7% cases followed by cough with respiratory distress was shown in 66% cases, fever shown in 76%, decreased urine output shows in 50% cases, convulsion was shown in 20% cases, skin rash shown in 92% cases and jaundice shown in 18& cases. 60% got their antibiotic treatment for 1-5days and 58% cases stayed in hospital for 6-10 days. During treatment combine antibiotic such as Tazid, meropenem, kacin, Gentamicin etc. were introduced. After treatment 62% patients got discharged with advice (DA). Conclusion: Skin rash and fever are typical clinical characteristics of newborn sepsis. Poor hygiene has been identified as the leading causes for newborns with sepsis. Bottle feeding cases are more than formula feeding. Sepsis risks can be reduced if parents are aware of proper cleanliness and breast-feeding techniques.