BACTERIOLOGY OF NEONATAL SEPTICEMIA IN A RURAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN SOUTH-INDIA

Out of 640 suspected cases of neonatal septicaemia studied, bacteraemi a was detected in 255 (40 per cent) of the infants. Gram negative orga nisms were predominant (56 per cent) with Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, an d Klebsiella as the commonest pathogens. Among the Gram positive organ isms both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were eq ually prevalent. Staphylococci were mainly responsible for early onset infections, whereas Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas were the m ain organisms in late onset infections. Group B streptococcal infectio n was not encountered in this part of the country.