Blood-culture-proven neonatal septicaemia: a review of 36 cases

The cases of 36 newborns seen in the neonatal unit of Al-Fatah Children's Hospital in Benghazi, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, with blood-culture-proven septicaemia were reviewed to determine clinical profile and outcome. There were 22 males and 14 females. Of these, 12 infants were premature with a gestational age of < 37 weeks and 24 were full term (gestational age > 37 weeks). At diagnosis, 11 cases were under 4 days of age. The most common symptoms were lethargy and feeding intolerance. Klebsiella was the most common etiological microorganism. Bacterial isolates were resistant to ampicillin and gentamicin but sensitive to cefotaxime. Of the 36 infants, 12 died (fatality rate = 33%).