Maternal genital bacteria and surface colonization in early neonatal sepsis.

OBJECTIVE

The study was intended to evaluate the role of maternal genital bacteria and baby's surface colonization in early onset neonatal sepsis.

METHODS

Babies (born in the hospital of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research) who developed clinical signs of sepsis were studied. Swabs were collected for culture from baby's umbilicus, ear, throat in addition to gastric aspirate and blood culture. The genital tract of the mother was also studied for bacterial colonization. The organisms isolated from the maternal genital tract and baby's surface colonization were correlated with those isolated from blood culture by calculating Phi correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Esch coli was the most common organism isolated from maternal genital tract and surface cultures of babies, but Klebseilla-Spp was the most common organism isolated from blood. There was a significant correlation between surface colonization of babies and maternal genital bacteria, so also was baby's surface culture and blood culture. However, correlation between maternal genital bacteria and baby's blood culture was not significant.

CONCLUSION

Surface colonizing bacteria and not maternal genital bacteria are important in early onset neonatal sepsis.