Characterization of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci Isolated From Neonatal Septicemias in a Tertiary Care Center.

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is the most common cause of death in neonates worldwide. Coagulase- negative staphylococci (CoNS) are now the leading cause of nosocomial bacteremia in most pediatric hospitals. This study is done to speciate various CoNS isolated from neonatal sepsis cases and determine their antibiotic sensitivity prole Methods: 75 cases of neonatal sepsis with CoNS bacteremia (from single BacT/ ALERT PF bottle) formed the study group. The clinical isolates of CoNS were identied and their antibiograms determined by Vitek 2 system. MRCoNS were conrmed by mec A gene detection using conventional Uniplex PCR. Results: Among the CoNS isolates S. epidermidis accounted for 28% followed by S. hominis 27%, and S. lentus(26%), S. haemolyticcus (11%), S. saprophyticus (6%), S. warneri (2%). All the isolates were sensitive to vancomycin & linezolid (100%). Followed by tetracycline 81%, cotrimoxazole 80%, gentamycin 64%. 79% of the isolates were methicillin resistant and had mecA gene. Conclusion: The study concludes that, all the CoNS isolated from neonatal sepsis may be speciated and sensitivity patterns determined for better management of cases. Emergence Methicillin resistant Coagulase negative staphylococci is an important nosocomial pathogens mainly in neonatal intensive care units was observed in this study.