Year: 2026 | Month: May | Volume: 16 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 150-159
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260518
Bacteriological Profile and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern in View of Neonatal Septicemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Maharashtra
Prakash Waghmare1, Poorvee Pradhan2, Swathi P.3, Pankaj Joshi4, Chandrahas Kale5, Neeta Jangale6
1Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, GMC Miraj.
2Postgraduate Resident (PGY-3), Department of Microbiology, GMC Miraj.
3Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, GMC Miraj.
4Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, GMC Miraj.
5Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, GMC Miraj.
6Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Microbiology, GMC Miraj.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Poorvee Pradhan
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Neonatal septicemia is a generalized bacterial infection that occurs during the first 4 weeks of life and is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in India. This study aims to determine the bacteriological profile and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of isolates from blood cultures of suspected septicemic neonates.
Material & Methods: Blood samples from 943 neonates suspected of sepsis from NICU of GMCH, Miraj, were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected with aseptic precaution. Subcultures were made on Blood agar and MacConkey agar plates every alternate day till 5th day of incubation. Organisms were followed according to standard microbiological techniques.
Results: Out of 943, 268 blood cultures of suspected cases, (28.41%) were culture positive. Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CONS) (34.32%) was the most common isolate followed by Klebsiella species (21.64%), Enterococcus species (14.55%) and Citrobacter freundii and Non-fermenter GNB 4.85% each. Linezolid was found to be 100% effective in CONS and Enterococcus species. Imipenem was found to be 100% effective in GNB isolates. All the Gram-negative bacteria were 100% resistant to Ampicillin. Also, all the GNB showed high resistance to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Cephalosporins.
Conclusion: The present study shows the predominance of CONS as the causative agent of neonatal sepsis followed by Klebsiella species suggesting the nosocomial infection. Antimicrobial resistance is emerging in bacteria causing neonatal septicemia. Strict antibiotic stewardship has to be practiced to prevent impending treatment failure.
Key words: Septicemia, neonates, antimicrobial resistance, Coagulase negative Staphylococci