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Incidence of blood culture-related sepsis in neonates and antibiotics sensitivity of implicated organisms in a secondary healthcare facility in Ghana

Wuni FK, Kukeba MW, Dzotsi KSN, Osman A, Atobrah P, Ofosu-Poku R

Ghana medical journal, 2023

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We determined the incidence of blood culture-related sepsis, causative bacteria, and antibiotics sensitivity among newborn babies with suggestive signs of sepsis admitted at the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, Ghana.

DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Newborn Care Unit of the Upper East Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga.

PARTICIPANTS: Neonates admitted to the Newborn Care Unit from August 2019 to August 2020 with signs of sepsis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Organisms isolated from blood cultures and sensitivity of isolated organisms to antibiotics.

RESULTS: The study included two hundred and seventy-six (276) patients. Laboratory confirmed sepsis was 13.4% (37/276). Early onset sepsis was 3.3% (9/276), while late-onset sepsis was 10.1% (28/276). The most common clinical signs associated with positive culture cases were temperature instability (35.5%), poor feeding (14.5%), neonatal jaundice (11.3%), vomiting (9.7%), and respiratory distress (8.1%). Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most common bacterial isolates (46% and 32%, respectively). There was no relationship between independent variables and blood culture confirmed sepsis. Antibiotics to which isolates were most resistant included flucloxacillin 4/4, penicillin 14/15, ampicillin 16/18, and tetracycline 23/28. Bacterial isolates were most sensitive to amikacin 16/16, levofloxacin 5/5, erythromycin 8/8, cefazolin 7/8, and ciprofloxacin 18/24.

CONCLUSION:…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.

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