A case of neonatal sepsis, early diagnosis and preventive intensive care

Neonatal sepsis is a pathological process that occurs as a complication of any infectious processes and is a life-threatening condition for newborns. Aim. To inform practitioners with the case of neonatal sepsis, when timely diagnosis and intensive care helped to prevent the development of septic shock and multiple organ failure. Materials and methods. A child was treated in the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care of Newborns of Zaporizhzhia City Pediatric Hospital No. 5. He underwent clinical and biochemical blood tests, microbiological, radiological and ultrasound examinations using the hospital equipment. Results. The child with a complicated prenatal history was born by emergency caesarean section for severe pre-eclampsia at 34 weeks’ gestation. On the tenth day of life, the infant developed a worsening intoxication syndrome and febrile temperature. X-ray examinations revealed right-sided pneumonia; clinical blood count showed leukocytosis with acute inflammatory changes, thrombocytopenia, and an elevated procalcitonin level. A day later, the inflammatory changes dramatically deteriorated, and the cerebrospinal fluid cytosis was increased up to 850 cells and dominated by neutrophils. Blood cultures tested positive for Enterobacter cloacae. The child was prescribed antibacterial therapy according to the de-escalation principle (meronem and vancomycin) with subsequent changes according to the results of microbiological examinations, infusion therapy with parenteral nutrition, immunosupportive (intravenous immunoglobulin) and antifungal therapy. As a result of intensive therapy, clinical blood count inflammatory abnormalities were regressed, cerebrospinal fluid was completely restored to health, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels were normalized, and pneumonia was resolved within a week. Positive laboratory changes were correlated with the general condition: normalization of body temperature, increased activity, and enteral feeding ability. Conclusions. Timely diagnosis and intensive care of neonatal sepsis caused by gram-negative flora helped to prevent the development of multiple organ failure and septic shock. The use of antibiotic therapy according to the de-escalation principle is justified in newborns at high risk of developing septicaemia.