Determining the main risk factors associated with neonatal death from sepsis in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Benghazi Medical Centre (BMC) during 2020

Abstract

Neonatal sepsis has known to be the third most common leading cause of death during the neonatal period worldwide. It accounts for nearly 26% of neonatal mortality in the developing countries. Hence, understanding the causes of death in NICU and highlighting the modifiable factors associated with death could possibly reduce infant mortality.  Aim: this study was to assess the contributing factors of death from neonatal sepsis (early and late) among neonates died in NICU at Benghazi Medical Centre in 2020. methodology: This study was a descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional design. Death certificates for neonates died from sepsis in NICU at BMC were collected from1-3-2023 to 31-3-2023 march. The data was analyzed by using (SPSS version 28), Chi-square and  was considered statistically significant for all statistical tests. Results: The neonates with BW < 2.5 Kg were more likely to die from neonatal sepsis 75% than with the neonates > 2.5 Kg that rate was less at 24.5%. Male neonates showed more predominance of death from sepsis than females at 64% and 35.8 % respectively.  The majority of death occurs among preterm neonates (81%) in EOS 54.7%, whereas, LOS death was about 45.3%.Conclusion: The outcomes of the current study demonstrated that, being premature with lower birth weight, being a male neonate, and having a history of resuscitation at birth all of these, were identified as risk factors for neonatal sepsis in the current study. Ensuring the early detection of STI, UTI and trans placental infections among mothers, by routine antenatal screening to decrease its impact on the neonate.