Neonatal Klebsiella pneumonia sepsis and imipenem/cilastatin.

Efficacy and safety of imipenem/cilastatin in neonatal Klebsiella pneumonia sepsis was investigated in 45 infants compared to 39 control infants on conventional antibiotic regimen. Sensitivity to imipenem was 94% followed by cephoxitin (88%), quinolons (80%), and amikacin (52%) according to susceptibility results in the study group. Treatment duration of surviving infants was 16.5 +/- 4.6 and 20.3 +/- 6.4 days in the study and control groups respectively (p < 0.05). Five infants (11%) vs 27 (69%) were unresponsive (septic deaths) to treatment in the study and control groups respectively (p < 0.001). The cure rates were 73% and 28% respectively (p < 0.001). Sequelae free discharge rates were 67% and 23% respectively (p < 0.001). The most frequent adverse effects of imipenem/cilastatin were Candida albicans superinfection (20%); Candida albicans colonisation (10%); impairment of liver and renal functions (19% and 10% respectively); seizures (5%); thrombocytosis (3%); thrombophlebitis (3%); urine discoloration (3%); and Staphylococcus epidermidis colonisation (2%). Imipenem is considered a good alternative for neonatal Klebsiella pneumonia sepsis with these results, however, one must be aware of the increased risk of Candida albicans superinfection.