Prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in Johannesburg, South Africa
Background: Despite a significant reduction in the prevalence of neonatal sepsis over the past three decades, the prevalence still remains high, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and presenting features of neonatal sepsis at a paedi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X2200057X |
| _version_ | 1811215644485484544 |
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| author | Tchouambou SN Clotilde Feroza Motara Abdullah E Laher |
| author_facet | Tchouambou SN Clotilde Feroza Motara Abdullah E Laher |
| author_sort | Tchouambou SN Clotilde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Despite a significant reduction in the prevalence of neonatal sepsis over the past three decades, the prevalence still remains high, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and presenting features of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency centre (PEC). Methods: Medical records of all neonates presenting to an academic hospital PEC over a six-month period were analysed. Data was compared between neonates with and without sepsis. The odds ratio was calculated to determine factors associated with neonatal sepsis. Results: Of the 210 neonates who were included, 43 (20.5%) were diagnosed with neonatal sepsis. Of these, 19 (44.2%) presented within the first 72 hours of life (early-onset neonatal sepsis) and 4 (9.3%) died prior to hospital discharge. A history of maternal employment (odds ratio (OR) 2.38, p=0.021), preterm birth (OR 3.24, p=0.019), low birth weight (<2.5kg) (OR 2.67, p=0.026), perinatal human immunodeficiency virus exposure (OR 3.35, p=0.002), not being breast fed (OR 4.36, p=0.001), and signs of lethargy (OR 14.01, p<0.001), dehydration (or 11.14, p<0.001), poor feeding (OR 7.20, p<0.001), irritability (OR 6.93, p<0.001), fever (OR 5.50, p<0.001), vomiting (OR 4.14, p<0.001) and respiratory distress (OR 4.12, p<0.001) were significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. Conclusion: Among neonates presenting to the PEC, various clinical features on history and examination may be useful in predicting the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Clinicians working in the PEC must adopt a high index of suspicion when attending to neonates presenting with these features. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:26:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f51d1d497eb4b9cb7fd1554859e2542 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-419X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:26:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f51d1d497eb4b9cb7fd1554859e25422022-12-22T03:44:08ZengElsevierAfrican Journal of Emergency Medicine2211-419X2022-12-01124362365Prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in Johannesburg, South AfricaTchouambou SN Clotilde0Feroza Motara1Abdullah E Laher2Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaCorresponding author at:; Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaBackground: Despite a significant reduction in the prevalence of neonatal sepsis over the past three decades, the prevalence still remains high, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and presenting features of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency centre (PEC). Methods: Medical records of all neonates presenting to an academic hospital PEC over a six-month period were analysed. Data was compared between neonates with and without sepsis. The odds ratio was calculated to determine factors associated with neonatal sepsis. Results: Of the 210 neonates who were included, 43 (20.5%) were diagnosed with neonatal sepsis. Of these, 19 (44.2%) presented within the first 72 hours of life (early-onset neonatal sepsis) and 4 (9.3%) died prior to hospital discharge. A history of maternal employment (odds ratio (OR) 2.38, p=0.021), preterm birth (OR 3.24, p=0.019), low birth weight (<2.5kg) (OR 2.67, p=0.026), perinatal human immunodeficiency virus exposure (OR 3.35, p=0.002), not being breast fed (OR 4.36, p=0.001), and signs of lethargy (OR 14.01, p<0.001), dehydration (or 11.14, p<0.001), poor feeding (OR 7.20, p<0.001), irritability (OR 6.93, p<0.001), fever (OR 5.50, p<0.001), vomiting (OR 4.14, p<0.001) and respiratory distress (OR 4.12, p<0.001) were significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. Conclusion: Among neonates presenting to the PEC, various clinical features on history and examination may be useful in predicting the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Clinicians working in the PEC must adopt a high index of suspicion when attending to neonates presenting with these features.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X2200057XNeonatal sepsisEmergency centrePerinatal HIV exposurePreterm birthLow birth weightBreast feeding |
| spellingShingle | Tchouambou SN Clotilde Feroza Motara Abdullah E Laher Prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in Johannesburg, South Africa African Journal of Emergency Medicine Neonatal sepsis Emergency centre Perinatal HIV exposure Preterm birth Low birth weight Breast feeding |
| title | Prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_full | Prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_short | Prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| title_sort | prevalence and presentation of neonatal sepsis at a paediatric emergency department in johannesburg south africa |
| topic | Neonatal sepsis Emergency centre Perinatal HIV exposure Preterm birth Low birth weight Breast feeding |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X2200057X |
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