Omphalitis in Neonates Admitted to Al-Ramadi Maternity and Children Hospital

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to recognize the prevalence of omphalitis in Al-Ramadi maternity and children hospital, main bacterial agent causing omphalitis as well as its relation to neonatal sepsis.
Materials and Methods: All neonates admitted to neonatal care unit in Al-Ramadi maternity and children hospital during the study period are examined for omphalitis and data collected as follow: age, sex, gestational age, residency, maternal education, type and site of delivery, history of rupture membrane, way of cutting and clamping of umbilical cord. Umbilical swabs were taken for culture and blood were collected aseptically for culture.
Results: During the study, one hundred five (12%) hospitalized neonates had omphalitis with mean age 5.16 ± 4.27 days.Male to female ratio was 1:0.5 Preterm babies were 18.1%. Redness was present in 79%. Pus discharge presented in 21%. Common pathogenic organism revealed by umbilical swab culture was Klebsiella spp. While blood culture revealed Staphylococcus aureus as the common pathogenic organism.
No significant association between neonatal sepsis and omphalitis. Only pus discharge was significantly associated with positive blood culture.
Conclusions: High prevalence of omphalitis (12%) recorded in Al-Ramadi maternity and children hospital and majority of them presented with redness.
Neonatal sepsis recognized among 57% of them that was caused by other causes apart from omphalitis i.e. hospital acquired infection, so several community and hospital based studies are required to determine the prevalence of omphalitis and underlying risk factors.