Risk factors of late-onset Neonatal Sepsis in Special Care Neonatal Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Introduction: Late-onset neonatal sepsis is one of the most common causes of neonatal deaths in hospital as well as community in developing country like Bangladesh. It can present asmeningitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, or gastroenteritis. Various risk factors play important role in its causation. In this study our main goal was to evaluate the risk factors of late onset neonatal sepsis in SCANU (Special Care Newborn Unit) of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in the SCANU of Dr. M.R. Khan Shishu Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Mirpur-2, Dhaka for 6 months. A total of 59 neonates with late onset sepsis in SCANU were included during the study period. Results: The socio-demographic status of the neonates with late onset sepsis shows that, most of the neonates (44.1%) were between 24 to 28 days. Also, 54.24% patients were male and 57.6% patients belong to middle economic status group. In the study, 79.7% had Cough with respiratory distress followed by 23.7% had cough only, 6.8% had fever, 52.5% had vomiting, abdominal distension, and 8.5% patients had Jaundice. Only 1.7% patients used bottles for feeding. Among neonates, the highest (49.15%) came with the risk factor of poor hygiene. The Majority (95%) of low-birthweight neonates had patchy opacity resembling pneumonia in chest x-ray. Conclusion: Poor hygiene is a high-risk factor for neonates with late onset sepsis. Bottle feeding had comparatively higher risk in developing late onset sepsis than formula feeding with spoon. Poor cord care is another risk factor. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2022; 40: 257-262