Severe Infections in Young Infants: Case of Ratchaburi Hospital

Abstract

          This study focuses on 42 young infants aged below 2 months admitted to Ratchaburi Hospital with Pneumonia, Sepsis, and Meningitis during September 1, 1995 to December 31, 1996. Majority of the infant studied aged 29-36 days (26.2%) and below 7 days (14.7%). 16.7% were referred from other hospitals or health centers; 21.4% had received antibiotics before admission to Ratchaburi Hospital. Mortality rate was at 2.4%.

          25 cases were Pneumonia, 10 cases were Sepsis, and 1 case was Pneumonia with Sepsis. The chief complaint and physical signs supporting pneumonia (p < 0.05) were cough, dyspnea, and chest indrawing. Those supporting Sepsis were somnolence and stopped feeding well.

          16.7% of hemoculture were positive for bacteria while 92.8% of nasopharyngeal culture were positive. Among 39 isolates from pneumonia and sepsis, 40.5% were Staphylococcus aureus, 33.3% were Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 19% were Streptococcus pneumoniae. Most common causative organisms of Pneumonia and Sepsis were Klebsiella pneumoniae (41.4%) and Staphylococcus aureus (53.8%) respectively.