Colonization pattern of Gram positive organisms causing neonatal sepsis in pregnant women

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in neonates. Early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) is commonly caused by mother’s vaginal and rectal organisms before or during the delivery process.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the colonization pattern of common gram positive organisms responsible for neonatal sepsis, in women of 35-37 weeks of pregnancy.

Methodology: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted from July 2018 to June 2019 at the department of Microbiology of Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka. Total 107 of each vaginal and vaginorectal samples was collected from pregnant women at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy attending at the out-patient department of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit of Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital, Dhaka. Vaginal and vaginorectal samples were tested by standard culture technique using Todd– Hewitt broth, blood agar, High chrome UTI agar media. Data was collected by a questionnaire and results were analyzed by statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) program.

Results: In this study, among 107 vaginal swab samples Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant isolate (51.40%), followed by Enterococci (20.56%), Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (14.95%) and Group B Sreptococcus (5.61%). Similarly among 107 vaginorectal swab samples commonest isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (56.1%), followed by Enterococci (52.34%), Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (11.21%) and Group B Streptococcus (6.54%).

Conclusion: The organisms from the vaginal and vaginorectal swabs were essentially the same. Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci were the most abundant organisms that can cause neonatal sepsis, isolated from the vaginal and vaginorectal swab samples.

Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2020; 14 (2): 12-18