Author(s)

Joseph Agossou^1*, Marcelline Hounnou-d’Almeida², Alphonse Noudamadjo¹, Julien Didier Adédémy¹, Wèrè Sylvestre Nékoua¹, Blaise Ayivi²

¹Mother & Child Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parakou, and Borgou Regional University Teaching Hospital in Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
²Mother & Child Department, Faculty of Health Sciences (University of Abomey-Calavi) and National University Teaching Hospital (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin.

Objective: Neonatal bacterial infections are a leading cause of mortality in developing countries, including Benin. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological, clinical and bacteriological aspects of neonatal bacterial infections and their outcomes in the neonatal care unit of the Borgou Regional University Teaching Hospital (CHUD-Borgou). Study design: This manuscript described a cross-sectional study with prospective data collection and an analytical purpose that was performed over the course of 3 months. It was conducted in the neonatal care unit of CHUD-Borgou and focused on 203 newborns who were admitted for suspected bacterial infection. Results: Neonatal bacterial infections accounted for 63.75% of admissions. The sex ratio was 1:1. Prematurity was the main reason for admission (25.1%), and respiratory distress was the most common physical symptom (22.2%). From a bacteriological point of view, 14.7% of blood cultures were positive, and the main isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli (35.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (21.5%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.3%). These pathogens were more sensitive to aminoglycosides than to other antibiotics. Lethality was 21.6%. Place of birth (p < 10^-3), age of the newborn at admission (p = 0.003) and maternal history of infectious diseases during pregnancy (p = 0.02) were factors associated with neonatal bacterial infections. Conclusion: This study identified the main pathogens responsible for neonatal bacterial infections and their level of sensitivity to antibiotics. It also determined the different factors associated with neonatal bacterial infections that should be considered in newborn care.

Infectious Diseases, Neonatology, Parakou, Benin

Agossou, J. , Hounnou-d’Almeida, M. , Noudamadjo, A. , Adédémy, J. , Nékoua, W. and Ayivi, B. (2016) Neonatal Bacterial Infections in Parakou in 2013. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 6, 100-108. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2016.61016.