NEONATAL SEPSIS

Neonatal sepsis
-Dr.Apoorva.E
PG,DCMS

Definition
• Neonatal septicemia is defined as generalized
systemic features of infection,associated with
pure growth of bacteria from one or more
sites,in a newborn.
• It is one of the most important causes of
mortality and morbidity in newborn
(especially in preterm,LBW babies).

• According to NNPD,
-incidence of neonatal sepsis is about 30 per 1000 live
births
-incidence of mortality due to NNS is about 4.1 %
• If diagnosed early and treated aggressively with
antibiotics & good supportive care,most cases of
neonatal sepsis can be saved.

• When pathogenic bacteria gain access into the
blood stream,
– they may cause overwhelming infection without
much localization (septicemia),
– may get predominantly localized to the lung
(pneumonia),
– the meninges (meningitis).

Classification
• Neonatal sepsis can be classified into two
sub-types depending upon time of onset of
symptoms
Before 72
hours of life
(early onset
sepsis)
After 72
hours of life
(late onset
sepsis)

Early onset sepsis
• Mainly due to bacteria acquired before and during
delivery
i.e, by organisms prevalent in genital tract or in the
labor room or O.T
• Mostly caused by Gram –ve organisms(e
coli,klebsiella,enterobacter,group B streptococci)
• Majority manifest as RD due to intrauterine
pneumonia

The associated factors for early-onset sepsis include :
 Prolonged rupture of membranes > 12 hours
 Foul smelling liquor or MSL
 Multiple per vaginal examination
 Maternal fever during or within 2 weeks of delivery
 Very low birth weight or preterm baby
 Difficult or prolonged labor
 Birth asphyxia and difficult resuscitation
 Pathological evidence of funisitis or presence of
polymorphs in gastric aspirate

 Prolonged rupture of membranes(PROM) : the
risk of sepsis is 1% percent compared to a
baseline incidence of 0.3% .
 Chorioamnionitis : increases the risk by 2 to 3
times.
 Prematurity & low birth weight : 10 times
higher risk of than term and normal birth
weight infants.

 Perinatal asphyxia : asphyxia is associated
with depressed immune function &
interventional procedures increase the risk of
infection by 4%
 Male gender : boys have 2 to 6 times higher
risk

Late onset sepsis
• Caused by the organisms of the external
environment of home or hospital.
• Often transmitted through the hands of the care-
providers.
• 2/3rds by Gram –ve organisms
(ecoli,klebsiella,enterobacter,serratia,pseudomona,
proteus,citrobacter)

• 1/3rds by Gram +ve organisms (Coagulase
positive staph aureus,CONS)
• Presentation is that of septicemia, pneumonia or
meningitis.
• Sequelae in survivors of meningitis are usually
severe.

• The associated factors of late-onset sepsis
include:
 Low birth weight
 Preterm babies (PDA,NEC,BPD)
 Delayed enteral feeding
 Superficial infections (pyoderma, umbilical sepsis)
 Mechanical ventilation
 Presence of central venous catheters,percutaneous
catheters

• Case definitions of NNS acc. to NNF :
– Proven sepsis : clinical picture of sepsis & isolation
of pathogens from blood,csf,urine or other body
fluids
– Probable sepsis : clinical picture suggestive of
sepsis
with lab investigations s/o sepsis
but blood culture sterile .

- Sepsis syndrome : septicemia associated with
altered organ perfusion(hypoxia,lactic
acidosis,oliguria & altered mental status)
• If untreated,leads to early septic shock,can be
reversible with appropriate treatment.
• If untreated,this state progresses to refractory
shock & multi organ dysfunction.

Clinical features
• The early diagnosis of NNS is difficult since most of
the symptoms & signs are non specific.
• The possibility of sepsis must be considered with
any clinical deterioration unless the event is readily
explained by other causes.
• For every 15 non infected newborns treated in
NICU only one newborn has documented infection.

• The most common manifestation is :
- respiratory distress in EOS
- alteration in the established feeding behaviour in
LOS.
• Hypothermia is a more common manifestation of
sepsis than fever.
• Pyelonephritis is common in males and
preterms,enlarged palpable kidneys +

• Sclerema – hide like character of skin,
skin stretched over underlying structures,
becomes unpinchable,
starts over face and legs and advances centripetally,
if skin over chest involved -> breathing becomes
shallow and rapid.
• NEC presents as distended abdomen,
passage of blood/mucus per rectum,
bilious vomiting,
diminished or absent bowel sounds,
peritonitis,
stool is positive for occult blood

• Any bone may be involved in osteomyelitis.
• Septic arthritis is more common in hip,knee,wrist
joints - swollen,red,tender,movement is limited.
• If child goes into shock -> cool
peripheries,prolonged CFT,peripheral pulses
absent,pale ashen gray look.
• If prolonged acidosis/hypothermia -> DIC with
bleeding manifestations.

Clinical suspicion of etiologic agent
• Staphylococcus – usually after 72 HOL,present as
pyoderma,conjunctivitis,umbilical
sepsis,abscess,osteomyelitis,scalded skin syndrome.
• Listeria – peripartal maternal fever,G.E + MSL,baby
limp at birth,AF depressed,RDS,apnoea,skin
rash,hepatosplenomegaly.
• Pseudomonas
• Klebsiella
grayish black gangrenous
patches on the skin

Diagnostic tests
Definitive,Specific
• Blood culture
• CSF culture
• Urine culture
• Tracheal aspirate culture
• Polymerase chain reaction
• Latex particle agglutination
test
Nonspecific,Diagnostic
• White blood cell count
• C-reactive protein(CRP)
• Micro ESR
• Other acute phase
reactants

Definitive,specific tests
Blood culture
• Venipuncture site thoroughly sterilized
• Alcohol-povidone iodine-alcohol
• Dry for 30 seconds
• Take 1ml of blood in a 10-20ml broth (blood sample is
5-10% of broth volume)
• The blood culture should be incubated for at least 72
hours before being considered negative
• The late growing organisms are anaerobes & CONS
• BACTEC,BACT/ALERT method is superior(fast
result,greater yield)
• Though blood culture is gold standard,it is positive in
only 60% cases

CSF examination
• Always do LP in a suspected case of LOS.
COMCOMPONENTS NORMAL FINDINGS

• > 30 WBC/mm3 ,with > 60% PMN,glucose < 50%
of blood glucose,protein > 150 mg/dl in term and
>180mg/dl in preterms suggest meningitis.
Urine examination
• Suprapubic specimen of urine is ideal.
• >10 WBC/mm3,colony count of >10 power 4
organisms/ml of urine suggest pyelonephritis.

Nonspecific,diagnostic,septic
screening tests
• Indicate infection without identifying the organisms
LEUKOCYTES
1.TLC of 8000-20000 is normal in neonates -> non
specific
2.Leukopenia(<5000) or absolute neutropenia (<1000)
suggest sepsis
3.Band cell count of >20% and band count : total
neutrophil count >0.2
4.Abnormal neutrophils(Dohle bodies,toxic
granulations,vacuolization)

Micro ESR
• Inexpensive & easy bedside screening test for
neonatal sepsis.
• Normal values increase with postnatal age
= day of life plus 3mm
(upto a maximum of 15 mm).
• >15mm suggests infection.
• Less sensitive.

C-reactive protein
• CRP is synthesized by the liver following any
inflammation.
• Most reliable indicator of neonatal infection.
• A level of >1mg/dl is considered abnormal in a
neonate.
• A single value of negative CRP -> not of much
significance.
• In suspected cases,repeat CRP after 12 hours.
• Serial decline in CRP levels with therapy indicates
infection responding well to antibiotics.
• Elevation of CRP precedes relapse of infection.

Other acute phase reactants
• Prealbumin ,fibronectin and transferrin are negative
reactants.
• Procalcitonin is produced in plasma of infected
patients,
physiologically elevated during 1st
three days of life,
normal value of 0.5,
indicator of late onset sepsis,
more reliable than CRP.

Miscellaneous tests
• Endotoxin release assay.
• NBT reduction by neutrophils.
• Gastric aspirate -> More than 5
neutrophils/HPF indicate exposure to
chorioamnionitis.
• Pus smear

Sepsis screen
• Done to rule out sepsis rather than to rule in
sepsis.
• Consists of :
– C-reactive protein (CRP),
– Total leukocyte count(TLC),
– Absolute neutrophil count (ANC),
– Immature to total neutrophil ratio (ITR),
– micro-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (μ-ESR)

• Two or more parameters of the sepsis screen are
positive -> sepsis screen positive
• If all the parameters of the sepsis screen are
negative in a neonate -> low probability of sepsis ,
antibiotics need not be started and the neonate
must be monitored clinically.
• The screen must be repeated after 12 hours.
• Two consecutive completely negative screens are
suggestive of no sepsis.

Evaluation of extent of the
disease
• LP for meningitis
• Urine examination
• CXR
• Xray erect abdomen
• Stool for occult blood
• Bone scan

Look for biochemical abnormalities
• Blood glucose
• Blood urea
• Serum creatinine
• TSB
• Serum electrolytes
• ABG

Management
Early recognition
+
Appropriate antibiotic therapy
+
Optimal supportive measures

Specific antimicrobial therapy
• High index of suspicion + positive sepsis screen
Start antibiotics
(depending upon the prevalent bacterial flora and
sensitivity pattern specific to each NICU).
• Constant reviewing and modifying the choice of
antibiotics to be done as flora and susceptibility
patterns keep changing.
• Periodic changes prevent emergence of antibiotic
resistance.

• Combination antibiotics covering most of the
pathogens to be started initially.
• Aminoglycoside + ampicillin.
• Cephalosporins,vancomycin,impinem reserved for
life threatening infections and meningitis.
• In centers with high incidence of resistance to
cephalosporins,start piperacillin-
tazobactum/methicillin-vancomycin.

• Newer antibiotics -> aztreonam,meropenem.
• Infections due to ESBL organisms should be treated
with meropenem.
• If meningitis -> cefotaxime/ceftazidime + amikacin.

If etiological agent identified or highly suspected
based on clinical picture -> start highly specific
antibiotic
• GBS – ampicillin or benzyl penicillin
• E .coli,Klebsiella – cefotaxime or ampicillin +
gentamicin
• Listeria – ampicillin + gentamicin
• Enterobacter,serratia - piptaz or vancomycin +
gentamicin
• Enterococcus – ampicillin or vancomycin +
gentamicin
• Pseudomonas – ceftazidime or cefepime
• MRSA – Vancomycin
• CONS –Vancomycin

Duration of antimicrobial therapy

Supportive measures
• Nursed in ambient temperature
• IVF started and enteral feeding stopped for few
days
• Correct hypoglycemia by 10% D bolus
• Inj Vit-K given iv twice a week till enteral feeds re-
established
• Sodabicarb to correct metabolic acidosis
• Treat shock with volume expanders,dopamine
• FFP to correct poor perfusion
• Corticosteroids given in very sick neonates with
endotoxic shock,sclerema,adrenal insufficiency

• Phototherapy and exchange transfusion for
hyperbilirubinemia
• Oxygen and ventilatory support if respiratory
failure
• Gentle physical stimulation if apneic
• Drainage of abscesses
• Bleeding tendencies managed by vit K,FFP,fresh
blood,platelet transfusions
• Treat seizures

Newer therapies
• a) Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG): Under
study.Not much data to support use of IVIG. IVIG
500-1000 mg/kg/dose. Specific Immunoglobulins :
Anti GBS Ig.
• b) Colony stimulating factors: No evidence to
support the use of CSF either as a treatment
modality or as a prophylaxis therapy.
G – CSF 10 µg/kg/d for 3 days
GM – CSF 10 µg/kg/d for 5 days

• c) Blood Exchange Transfusion (BET): BET
may be performed in a case of deteriorating
sepsis with sclerema provided the general
condition of the baby allows the procedure.
• d) Oral administration of IgA and IgG in NEC
• e) Granulocyte infusions

NEONATAL SEPSIS

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to NEONATAL SEPSIS

Similar to NEONATAL SEPSIS (20)

More from apoorvaerukulla

More from apoorvaerukulla (15)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

NEONATAL SEPSIS

Editor's Notes