BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis is characterised by bacteraemia and clinical 
symptoms caused by microorganisms and their toxic products. Gram negative 
bacteria are the commonest causes of neonatal Sepsis. The resistance to the 
commonly used antibiotics is alarmingly high. The major reason for emerging 
resistance against antibiotics is that doctors often do not take blood cultures 
before starting antibiotics. We have carried out this study to find out various 
bacteria causing neonatal sepsis and their susceptibility to antibiotics for 
better management of neonatal sepsis.
METHODS: A total of 130 neonates with sepsis who were found to be blood culture 
positive were taken in this study. Culture/sensitivity was done, isolated 
organisms identified and their sensitivity/resistance was noted against 
different antibiotics. Data were arranged in terms of frequencies and 
percentage.
RESULTS: Out of 130 culture proven cases of neonatal sepsis, gram negative 
bacteria were found in 71 (54.6%) cases and gram positive bacteria in 59 (45.4%) 
cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacteria found in 35 (26.9%) 
cases followed by Escherichia coli in 30 (23.1%) cases. Acinetobacter species, 
Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebseila, Streptococci, Enterobacter cloacae and 
Morexella species were found in 17 (13.1%), 17 (13.1%), 13 (10%), 7 (5.4%), 6 
(4.6%), and 5 (3.8%) cases respectively. In most of the cases causative 
organisms were found to be resistant to commonly used antibiotics like 
ampicillin, amoxicillin, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone (77.7%, 81.5%, 63.1%, and 
66.9% respectively). There was comparatively less (56.9%) resistance to 
ceftazidime. Gentamicin had resistance in 55.1% cases, while amikacin and 
tobramycin had relatively less resistance (17.4% and 34.8% cases respectively). 
Quinolones and imipenem had relatively less resistance. Vancomycin was found to 
be effective in 100% cases of Staphylococcus group.
CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus aureus are the most common gram positive bacteria and 
Escherichia coli are the most common gram negative bacteria causing neonatal 
sepsis. Resistance to commonly used antibiotics is alarmingly increasing. 
Continued surveillance is mandatory to assess the resistance pattern at a 
certain level.