Incidence of Neonatal Infection in South Sinai, Egypt

Background: The incidence of neonatal infection varies from one place to another, and also within the same nursery depending on conditions predisposing to infection. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the incidence of neonatal infection (NICUs) in South Sinai neonatal intensive care units, Egypt. Methods: The study included 1023 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units in the South Sinai state hospitals from January 2010 to September 2014 and scanned for demographic data and the potential risk factors for neonatal septicemia. Results: The Incidence of septicemia in the NICUs of South Sinai state hospitals was 8.6% and mortality rate among sepsis cases (sepsis fatality rate) was about 25%. The percentage of cases with late-onset sepsis (68.2%) was predominant compared to the early-onset sepsis (31.8%). Hospital acquired infections represented 30.7 % of sepsis cases. Male neonates, preterm, low birth weight babies, normal vaginal deliveries, twin deliveries and multipara mothers and premature rupture of membranes were significantly associated with more incidence of sepsis among the study population. There was no statistical significant difference (P > 0.05) between sepsis and non-sepsis cases regarding the maternal age, site of delivery and presence of congenital anomalies among the study population. Conclusions: Prevalence of septicemia in neonatal intensive care units in South Sinai state hospitals was about 8.6% due to the abundance of risk factors in this area.