Gut Colonization of the Newborn and its Association with Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract

eonatal sepsis is one of the most challenging problems despite the ongoing progress in diagnosis and treatment. Neonatal sepsis is the single most important cause of neonatal deaths in the community, accounting for over half of them. Early-onset sepsis is associated with acquisition of microorganisms from the mother. Transplacental infection or an ascending infection from the cervix may be caused by organisms that colonize the mother’s genitourinary (GU) tract; the neonate acquires the microorganisms as it passes through the colonized birth canal at delivery. Neonatal sepsis due to intestinal bacterial translocation is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to detect the pattern of colonization of the neonatal gut with gram negative bacilli in a tertiary care hospital (Maternity Hospital, ASU) and the possible association between this colonization and the subsequent development of neonatal sepsis. This study was conducted at Ain shams Univeristy Maternity Hospital during the period from February 2013 till February 2014. The study was performed on 53 neonates delivered at the hospital. Of the 53 neonates, 44 were males and 9 were females.