BackgroundThis study compares the minimally invasive Bilistick and a noninvasive method with standard Total Serum Bilirubin (TSB) measurement in preterm newborns receiving phototherapy. We assess the agreement of Transcutaneous Bilirubinometer (TcB) and Bilistick bilirubin measurements with standard TSB measurement in preterm infants receiving phototherapy.MethodsBilirubin was measured by using TcB and Bilistick in 94 preterm infants in RSCM Jakarta Neonatal Ward from October 2016 to March 2017, with gestational ages of < 35 weeks, before phototherapy and after 24 and 48 h of phototherapy.ResultsThere was significant correlation before, at 24 and 48 h of phototherapy between TSB and either TcB (r = 0.874; r = 0.889; r = 0.878 respectively; p < 0.0001), or Bilistick (r = 0.868; r = 0.877; r = 0.918 respectively; p < 0.0001). The mean difference and limits of agreement before, at 24 and 48 h of phototherapy between TcB and TSB were 0.81 ± 1.51 mg/dL (− 2.14 to 3.77 mg/dL); 0.43 ± 1.57 mg/dL (− 2.66 to 3.51 mg/dL); 0.41 ± 1.58 mg/dL (− 2.69 to 3.50 mg/dL), respectively. For Bilistick they were − 1.50 ± 1.47 mg/dL (− 4.38 to 1.38 mg/dL); − 1.43 ± 1.47 mg/dL (− 4.32 to 1.46 mg/dL); − 1,15 ± 1.31 mg/dL (− 3,72 to 1,42 mg/dL), respectively.ConclusionsBoth methods are reliable for measuring TSB before, during, and after phototherapy in preterm infants. TcB tends to overestimate while Bilistick underestimates TSB.

Introduction: Culture-negative and multidrug-resistant neonatal sepsis frequently occur in developing countries and complicate neonatal sepsis management. These conditions contribute to a high neonatal mortality rate and accelerate the misuse of antibiotics. However, the extent of culture-negative and multidrug-resistant neonatal sepsis in developing countries remains poorly characterized. This study aims to describe culture-negative and culture-proven neonatal sepsis epidemiology and the antimicrobial resistance patterns in Palembang, Indonesia. Methodology: A retrospective review of the medical records of all neonatal admissions between January 2016 and December 2018 was conducted at a tertiary-level referral hospital in Indonesia. The maternal and neonatal characteristics and microbiological results of the identified sepsis cases were obtained and analyzed. Results: Three hundred and fifty-six neonatal sepsis cases were admitted from 2016 to 2018, accounting for 14.1% of neonatal hospital admissions. The percentages of early-onset and late-onset sepsis were comparable (49.7% vs. 50.3%), with an 18.1% case fatality rate. The proportion of culture-negative sepsis was 44%. The mortality rates between culture-proven and culture-negative sepsis cases did not differ statistically (p = 0.11). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (30.9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (18.1%), and Acinetobacter spp. (10.7%) were the most frequently isolated pathogens. Overall, 62.6% of all isolated organisms were multidrug-resistant bacteria, with a high prevalence of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant and carbapenem-resistant strains. Conclusions: Culture-negative sepsis accounts for a significant proportion of neonatal sepsis cases. Early- and late-onset and culture-negative and culture-proven neonatal sepsis contribute to a comparable proportion of neonatal sepsis morbidity and mortality. There is an alarmingly high prevalence of resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporin and carbapenem in neonatal sepsis cases.