Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background:Bacterial infections continue to pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of children, leading to both mortality and morbidity. The potential exists to mitigate these impacts through timely detection and effective treatment. In response to infections, the immune system actively combats them. However, sepsis can arise when the immune response becomes excessive, inadvertently targeting the body's organs and tissues.Methods:The investigation involved the analysis of blood culture reports from 848 cases of suspected septicemias among pediatric patients at the department of pediatrics, employing the established Mackie and McCartney standard technique. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was conducted using Kirby-Bauer's disc diffusion method. Additionally, risk factors associated with sepsis were documented. All collected samples underwent processing at the Department of Microbiology.Results:Out of 848 samples, 25% exhibited positive culture results, while the remaining 75% were sterile. Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) constituted the majority of isolated bacteria at 71%, with Gram-positive cocci (GPC) comprising the remaining 29%. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the predominant bacterial strain at 41.5%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus) at 28.3%, and Klebsiella species at 13.2%. Other identified organisms included Pseudomonas species (7.5%), Enterobacter (4.7%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (1.8%), Citrobacter (1.8%), and Acinetobacter (0.9%). Notably, E. coli emerged as the most frequently isolated bacterium across all age groups in the study.Conclusion:Detecting bloodstream infections poses a significant challenge and, at times, can be life-threatening. Hence, the prompt identification, detection, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of pathogens present in the blood are crucial functions of a diagnostic microbiology laboratory.