Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of our present study was to investigate the simultaneous findings of both blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures and to determine the etiological pathogens responsible for neonatal sepsis and meningitis in our neonatal intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in our newborn department from November 2013 to October 2015. During this period 732 neonates with signs and symptoms of neonatal sepsis were included in our study. Sepsis and meningitis work up were performed and simultaneous blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were taken from eligible patients. Results: Cerebrospinal fluid cultures were positive in100 (13.7%) of cases. Positive blood cultures were found in 59 (8.1%) neonates with meningitis. Staphylococcus bacteria (48%) was the most frequent organism responsible for confirmed meningitis, followed by klebsiella (19%) and pseudomonas (10%). Simultaneous pathogens isolated from blood cultures were Staphylococcus (%24), klebsiella (13%) and pseudomonas (8%). Conclusion: In our study group staphylococcus, klebsiella and pseudomonas were the main etiological agents that were responsible for  neonatal sepsis and  meningitis in our unit.