NEONATAL SEPSIS DUE TO KLEBSIELLA: FREQUENCY, ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION BY 16S RRNA ANALYSIS

Sohail S. Khan* and Budhlani G. N.

ABSTRACT

Sepsis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. The focus of this study was to isolate and to identify Klebsiella pneumoniae, and its confirmation by 16s rRNA analysis. Present study revealed that Klebsiella pneumoniae is the commonest organism responsible for neonatal sepsis. One hundred and nineteen (119) neonates had positive blood cultures due to Klebsiella infection out of 1000 cases. Patients with Klebsiella septicemia were categorized into two groups of early and late-onset sepsis. Present study showed Ampicillin resistance in 97.5% isolates and Penicillin resistance in 96.6 % isolates. Above 50% isolates exhibited resistance against Erythromycin, Norfloxacin, Tetracycline and Ciprofloxacin. 97.5% isolates of Klebsiella spp. were found to be most sensitive to Imipenem. This study of Klebsiella spp. causing neonatal sepsis and their sensitivity pattern is useful so that guidelines can be prepared for empirical antibiotic therapy.

Keywords: Klebsiella, early and late onset, antibiotic susceptibility, 16s rRNA analysis.