Neonatal infections in Asia

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2009 Mar;94(2):F144-8. doi: 10.1136/adc.2008.139865. Epub 2008 Sep 19.

Abstract

Objective: To study the epidemiology (including incidence, antibiotic sensitivity and mortality) of neonatal unit infections in countries in Asia.

Methods: One year prospective study of neonatal infections in eight neonatal units in Asia.

Results: There were 453 episodes of sepsis affecting 394 babies. Mortality from neonatal sepsis was 10.4%, with an incidence of 0.69 deaths/1000 live births. Group B streptococcus was the most common early-onset organism causing 38% of episodes of early-onset (<48 h old) sepsis, with a rate of 0.51 episodes per 1000 live births and a mortality of 22%. Gram-negative bacillary early-onset sepsis occurred at a rate of 0.15 episodes per 1000 live births with a mortality of 12%. There were 406 episodes of late-onset sepsis. The incidence was high at 11.6 per 1000 live births, and mortality was 8.9%. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus caused 34.1% of episodes, whereas Staphylococcus aureus caused only 5.4%. Gram-negative bacilli caused 189 episodes (46.6%). Only 44% of Gram-negative bacilli were sensitive to both gentamicin and a third-generation cephalosporin, whereas 30% were resistant to both antibiotics. Meningitis occurred in 17.2% of episodes of late sepsis, with a mortality of 20%.

Conclusions: The incidence of late-onset sepsis was higher in Asia than in resource-rich countries, but the organisms isolated and mortality were similar. Over half of all Gram-negative bacilli were antibiotic resistant.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Asia / epidemiology
  • Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Bacterial Infections / mortality
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Female
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Mycoses / epidemiology*
  • Mycoses / microbiology
  • Mycoses / mortality
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sepsis / epidemiology
  • Sepsis / microbiology
  • Sepsis / mortality