Study of Clinical and Bacteriological Profile of Culture-Positive Neonatal Sepsis at a Tertiary care hospital

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a significant global health challenge, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality among neonates. Its clinical manifestations and causative agents show regional and temporal variations, necessitating localized studies to guide effective management. This study aimed to assess the clinical features, bacteriological profile, and antimicrobial resistance patterns in culture-positive neonatal sepsis at a tertiary NICU. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed records of 131 inborn neonates with culture-proven sepsis admitted between April 2019 and March 2020. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, causative organisms, and treatment outcomes were examined. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were also evaluated. Results: Of the 131 cases, 84.55% presented with early-onset sepsis (EOS). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the predominant pathogen (56.36%), followed by Acinetobacter (20.91%) and MRSA (11.82%). Antibiotic resistance was widespread, with better susceptibility observed for Amikacin (75.81%) and Meropenem (40.32%). Clinical presentations commonly included respiratory distress (86.36%), hypothermia (49.09%), and feeding intolerance (49.09%). Mortality was 30.91%, disproportionately affecting preterm and low-birth-weight neonates. Conclusion: Neonatal sepsis continues to pose a critical challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. Klebsiella pneumoniae remains a major pathogen with high resistance patterns, underscoring the need for continuous surveillance and the implementation of robust antimicrobial stewardship programs.