Newborns at Risk of Sepsis Due to Inadequate Care in District Hospitals

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The condition of newborn care in district hospitals across the country is alarmingly poor, according to a study conducted by AIIMS. The research, which involved 6,612 newborns, found symptoms of sepsis, a severe and life-threatening infection in newborns. Sepsis occurs when the body overreacts to an infection, damaging its tissues and organs. Experts highlight that sepsis is a medical emergency.

To assess the condition, AIIMS experts studied newborns admitted to five Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) in district hospitals, including the Government Hospital in Cuddalore, the District Hospital in Mahasamund, the Regional Hospital in Una, the Civil Hospital in Shiv Sagar, and Government Nahata Hospital in Balotra. These hospitals were connected to tertiary care institutions. Of the 6,612 newborns, 3,972 were hospital-born, while 2,640 were born outside. The average gestational age was 37.1 weeks, and the average birth weight was 2,540 grams.

The study revealed that 50.8% of the newborns exhibited symptoms of sepsis. The rate of blood infection (culture-positive sepsis) was 3.2%, with variation across the hospitals, ranging from 0.6% to 10%. Sepsis rates were higher in newborns born outside the hospital (5.0%) compared to those born in hospitals (2.0%). The mortality rate for babies with culture-positive sepsis was 36.6%.

The study identified three main bacteria responsible for the infections: Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, and Enterobacter species, with 75% to 88% of these bacteria being multidrug-resistant.

The research was undertaken to address the lack of data on sepsis in smaller hospitals, as most previous studies focused on large hospitals. This study helped assess the sepsis rate, the bacteria causing the infections, and their antimicrobial resistance status in district hospitals.

Blood samples from the newborns were collected between October 2019 and December 2021 and sent to the laboratories of major hospitals for testing. The bacteria causing the infections were identified, and their resistance to antibiotics was evaluated using specialized machines.

The high mortality rate among affected infants and the widespread multidrug resistance in the bacteria are concerning findings. AIIMS pediatrician Dr. M Jeeva Shankar and other experts emphasized the need for immediate action to improve infection prevention measures and ensure the correct use of antibiotics in district hospitals to address this serious issue.