J Korean Pediatr Soc.  2002 Jan;45(1):55-63.

A Nationwide Survey on the Causative Organisms of Neonatal Sepsis in Korea

• Kim KA
• Shin SM
• Choi JH

Abstract

PURPOSE: A nationwide survey was conducted to investigate the most common causative organisms in neonatal sepsis in Korea.
METHODS
By reviewing medical records of newborn infants who were confirmed as neonatal sepsis by isolating organisms from blood culture during a one year study period from January to December in 1997, data for causative organisms, risk factors, accompanying focal infections and combinations of antibiotics were collected.
RESULTS
112,351 neonates were born at 55 hospitals in 1997 and 30,767 neonates were admitted to the neonatal units. During this period, 1,175 episodes of neonatal sepsis were recorded in 1,116 neonates. The male to female ratio was 1.17:1. 424 cases(36%) were born prematurely. The main pathogens of early-onset sepsis were coagulase negative Staphylococcus(CONS, 19.3%), S. aureus (16.1%), S. epidermidis(16.1%) and Gram negative bacilli(19.2%) including Pseudomonas(5.9%), Klebsiella(3.9%), E. coli(3.9%), Enterobacter spp(3.5%), Acinetobacter(2.0%). Only six cases of group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus were isolated. Common obstetric factors were premature rupture of membranes(17.3%), maternal leukocytosis(14.6%), fetal tachycardia(10.2%), chorioamnionitis(3.1%) and maternal fever(3.1%). The main pathogens of late-onset sepsis were S. aureus (20.3%), S. epidermidis(18.9%) and CONS(13.7%). Frequent focal infections accompanying sepsis were arthritis(12.8%), meningitis(7.0%), pneumonia(5.4%) and urinary tract infection(3.1%). The most common combination of antibiotics used in early and late neonatal sepsis was ampicillin and gentamicin. When a nosocomial infection was suspected, a combination of vancomycin and cefotaxime was used most frequently.
CONCLUSION
S. aureus and S. epidermidis were the most common pathogens in the neonatal sepsis.

Keyword

Neonatal sepsis; Causative organism; Obstetric factor; Antibiotics

MeSH Terms

Ampicillin
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cefotaxime
Coagulase
Cross Infection
Enterobacter
Female
Focal Infection
Gentamicins
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Korea*
Male
Medical Records
Risk Factors
Rupture
Sepsis*
Streptococcus
Urinary Tract
Vancomycin
Ampicillin
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cefotaxime
Coagulase
Gentamicins
Vancomycin