Etiological agents of infections in neonatal intensive care units

Introduction: Neonatal or newborn period includes the first 28 days after the birth of a child. The immune sistem of a newborn is not fully developed and can not be completely effective oppose to pathogens which the infant can be exposed perinatally or in the period just before birth and seven days after. Goal : The aim of this study was to identify the most common causative agents of neonatal infections and the movement of infections through the observed period. Material and methods : This retrospective analytical study recruited 160 patients admitted to the Neonatology Department of the Cantonal Hospital „Dr Irfan Ljubijankic“ in Bihac, in the period from January 2013 to December 2014 on suspicion of neonatal infection. Results : Of 160 neonates suspected on neonatal infections in 123 (76,9%) was confirmed. Most neonates were admitted in the period from October to December 2013 (n=31, 19,4%). Most neonates with confirmed neonatal infection were admitted in the period from January to March 2013 (n=25, 20.3%). The most common diagnosis was Infectio perinatalis (n=57, 28,5%). Of the 87 isolated pathogens 65% (n=57) were Gram-positive, from which the most common were Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA 82,5% (n=47). Conclusion : Of the total number of neonates admitted on suspicion of neonatal infection, healing was result in 75% (n=120), neurological deficit in 18,1% (n=29), and the death in 6,9% (n=11) neonates. Keywords : neonates, Infectio perinatalis , Staphylococcus aureus , neurological deficit