Neonatal sepsis due to Escherichia coli: Frequency, antibiotic susceptibility and molecular characterization by 16s Rrna analysis

Abstract

Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns. The present study is based on a prospective analysis of 113 out of 1000 neonates who admitted to preterm unit and intensive care unit (ICU) in different hospitals of Akola city from Jan 2014 to Jan 2017. The focus of this study was to isolate, to identify Escherichia coli isolates, its confirmation by 16s rRNA analysis and to detect antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Escherichia coli is a major cause of neonatal sepsis prevalent isolates amongst the gram negative organisms exhibited high rate of antibiotic sensitivity to Imipenem, Meropenem and Amikacin. In present investigation, Escherichia coli isolates also exhibited a multi drug resistance to ampicillin, Penicillin, Nalidixic acid, Amoxicillin, Cefotexime, Norfloxacin and Tetracycline. This poses a threat to treatment of neonates due to increasing antibiotic resistance. Hence, this study of Escherichia coli causing neonatal sepsis and their sensitivity pattern is useful so that guidelines can be prepared for empirical antibiotic therapy. Molecular characterization of multi drug resistant Escherichia coli isolates by 16s rRNA analysis was confirmed. It is concluded multi-drug resistant E. coli has emerged as the predominant pathogen responsible for early-onset neonatal sepsis, particularly in preterm infants.