Etiology of Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis and Antibiotic Resistance in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract Background The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has one highest neonatal death rates (between 14% and 28%) in world. In DRC, sepsis causes 15.6% this mortality, but data on bacterial etiology associated drug susceptibility are lacking. Methods Hemocultures 150 neonates with possible early-onset (pEOS) were obtained at Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence Bukavu (Bukavu, DRC). newborns pEOS received an empirical first-line antimicrobial treatment (ampicillin, cefotaxime, gentamicin) based synopsis international guidelines for management EOS that line World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Isolates identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time-of-flight mass spectrophotometry. Antibiotic resistance was assessed disk diffusion method. Results Fifty strains from 48 patients identified. 3 most prevalent species Enterobacter cloacae complex (42%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%), Serratia marcescens (12%). isolates resistant to all antibiotics. All K. S. ampicillin, majority half both cefotaxime gentamicin. E. strains, 89% pneumoniae, had extended-spectrum ß-lactamase phenotype. Conclusions pathogens causing complex, marcescens. Most these WHO-recommended