Clinical symptoms and laboratory findings in 100 cases of neonatal sepsis

Abstract

During March 1996 through April 1997 100 cases of neonatal septicemia were treated in the neonatal ward and neonatal intensive care unit of the children's medical center in Tehran. These cases consisted of 32 % premature and 68% full term neonates, 57% and 43% female infants. The frequency of clinical symptoms were: Failure to drink 41%, lethargy 28%, cyanosis and respiratory distress 24%, jaundice 22%, diarrhea and vomiting 14%, convulsion 11%, skin rash 8%, cough 4%, hypothermia and abdominal distension each 3% and restlessness 2%. Laboratory findings consisted of: Increased ESR in 33%, positive blood culture 66%, Hb<13 30%, platelets<150.000 45%, WBC<3500 9%, WBC>25000 6%, neutropenia 10%, I/T>0.16 2% and abnormal chest radiography 45.7%. The microorganisms isolated in blood culture: Klebsiella 36.7%, enterobacteria 10.2%, E.coli 6%, staph aureus 18.3%, staph epidermidis 18.3%, enterococci and strep B each 2%