Study on Epidemiology of Neonatal and Infants Sepsis and the Role of Pharmacists in Management and Prevention of Sepsis

Abstract

Background:  Infants and neonatal sepsis remain a serious global cause of death and illness and represent approximately 15% of global neonatal mortality. Guidelines for functional management are necessary to improve outcomes and prevent antibiotic resistance. Intervention by pharmacists has been shown with good results to justify antimicrobial treatment and reduce patient morbidity.

Objectives: The evaluating impact of pharmacist intervention on sepsis management in neonates and infants according to incidence density, detection of pathogen, inappropriate antibiotic administration, hospital stay duration and mortality rate.

Methods: A Prospective observational study in Pediatrics and Neonatal Intensive Care Units of a Tertiary care hospital for 9 months. Sepsis patients aged 0-12 months were enrolled. Interventions by pharmacists were Antibiotic stewardship education and sepsis management, Antimicrobial stewardship programs, Medication therapy optimisation and Joint rounds with the health care team.

Results and Discussion: Incidence density of sepsis in the newborn is 12.6 per 1,000 live births and Escherichia coli (32.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.4%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.5%) are most common pathogens-40% misuse of antibiotics were saved by pharmacist intervention, 30% hospital stay, 25% mortality, Increased antibiotics susceptibility patterns.

Conclusions: Pharmacist intervention is very strong positive impact on quality of antimicrobial treatments, sepsis treatment and resistance prevention in neonates and infants. Pharmacists, physicians and healthcare workers are work together to enhance patient outcomes and reduce sepsis burden.