Neonatal infections and their outcome in Afghanistan
Choudhry, V.P.; Fazel, M.I.; Choudhry, M.; Ghafary, A.
Indian Pediatrics 24(11): 1019-1025
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 3450640 Document Number: 289901
Neonatal infections constituted over 80% of admissions in the neonatal unit. Septicemia was most frequently seen (51.5%). It was followed by bronchopneumonia (17.6%), acute gastroenteritis (10.9%), tetanus neonatorum (9.4%), pyogenic meningitis (5.3%) and superficial infections (5.3%). Septicemia was more frequently observed in hospital born neonates whereas tetanus neonatorum was more frequently seen among neonates delivered at home. Microbiological organisms isolated were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa from blood, while Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 50% of the cases from pus. One third of neonates expired. Morality was maximum in neonates with pyogenic meningitis (73%). This was followed by tetanus neonatorum (69.6%), septicemia (36.6%), bronchopneumonia (15.1%) and acute gastroenteritis (11.3%). Mortality was significantly higher among the prematures and neonates who were hospitalized within 24 hours of their age.