INCIDENCE OF NEONATAL SEPTICEMIA IN IDGH-RISK NEONATES IN DU'IrERENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATES

Abstract

Neonatal septicemia refers to a generalized bacterial infection that has been documented by positive blood culture during the first month of life (Klein and !far:_cy, 1995). The "\ incidence of neonatal septicemia, in developed countries, varies from 1 to 4 cases per 1000 live births (Gott?f, 199...6). It -z. varies from unit to unit according to rates of prematurity, prenatal care, conduct of labor and environmental conditions in nurseries. This study included 298 neonates who were admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Obstetric and Gynecology Hospital of Ain Shams University during the period from September 21, 1995 to December 21, 1995; aiming at determination of the incidence of neonatal septicemia in high risk neonates in different socioeconomic states. They were 167 males and 131 females. Their gestational ages ranged from 23 to 42 weeks and their weights ranged from 600 to 5200 grams. They belonged to different classes. All cases were subjected to detailed history taking, full clinical examination, blood sampling for CRP and complete blood picture. Assessment of the socioeconomic state was done using modified Park and Park score. If the newborn was at high risk of sepsis, he was subjected to blood culture, urine culture and CSF culture. Seventy cases out of 298 cases were proved to have neonatal septicemia. The incidence was 23% among our cases. Most of them belonged to low socioeconomic class. The