ENTEROBACTER SEPSIS IN THE NEWBORN - A GROWING PROBLEM IN KARACHI

Enterobacter sepsis is commonly recognized as hospital-acquired infect ion in childhood. In a five year prospective surveillance of neonatal sepsis at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, we identified E nterobacter sepsis in 28/292 (10%) cases, with an incidence of 0.7 per thousand births among inborn infants. There was no significant differ ence in predisposing factors and clinical features between Enterobacte r and other infections. Approximately half (47%) of Enterobacter infec tions presented within 72 h of birth and the associated mortality was 21%. Increasing resistance to commonly used first- and second-line ant ibiotics over the last five years was noted. Enterobacter infections a re emerging as significant pathogens among cases of neonatal sepsis in Karachi.