Clinical and Microbiological Profile of Culture-Positive Neonatal Sepsis in a Tertiary Care Center in North India.

Background Sepsis in newborns is a major clinical concern, especially in resource-limited settings. Although blood culture remains the primary method for confirming infection and guiding treatment, its detection rate is often suboptimal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics, maternal and neonatal risk factors, and antimicrobial resistance patterns linked to culture-confirmed neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care facility in North India. Materials and methods This prospective observational study was carried out over 18 months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, a tertiary care teaching hospital in Sitapur, India, enrolling 118 neonates aged 28 days or younger who presented with clinical signs suggestive of sepsis. Data on maternal and neonatal risk factors were collected using a pre-tested proforma. Blood cultures were processed using standard microbiological techniques, and antibiotic susceptibility was assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0. Significant risk factors associated with culture-positive sepsis were identified using binary logistic regression analysis. Results Among 118 neonates, 28% (33/118) had culture-positive sepsis.