116 cases of neonatal early-onset or late-onset sepsis: A single center retrospective analysis on pathogenic bacteria species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors, clinical symptoms, hematological parameters, causative pathogen and antibiotic susceptibility of neonatal sepsis in a Chinese NICU.
METHODS: A retrospective survey was conducted on 116 cases of neonatal sepsis in NICU at the Maternal and Child Care Hospital in Shenzhen, China from January 2009 to December 2012. Patients were divided into early-onset sepsis (EOS) and late-onset sepsis groups according to their positive blood culture occurrence time (in the first 7 days of life or later).
RESULTS: 116 cases of neonatal sepsis were divided into early-onset sepsis (EOS) group and late-onset sepsis (LOS) group. There was significant difference for risk factors like peripherally insertion central catheter (PICC) between two groups. The clinical symptoms or laboratory results such as chilly periphery, fever, jaundice, platelet and hemoglobin also had between-group differences. The most common responsible pathogenic bacteria species present in EOS group was Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS). Among those CoNS Staphylococcus epidermidis provided 24.24%, and Staphylococcus haemolyticus contributed 13.63%. Both were sensitive to vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid. The most common responsible pathogenic bacteria species in LOS group was Staphylococcus epidermidis (16%). Antimicrobial susceptibility in EOS group is higher than in LOS group.
CONCLUSION: PICC is a bigger risk factor for neonatal late-onset sepsis. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the leading pathogen present in neonatal sepsis in a tertiary maternal & child care hospital in southern China. Vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid may be the best choice to management of neonatal sepsis.