Background: Neonatal sepsis refers to generalized bacterial blood stream infection in first 28 days of life documented by positive blood cultures. It is one of leading causes of neonatal mortality. Objectives was to study clinicobacteriological, antibiotic sensitivity patterns and mortality of neonatal sepsis.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics of Government Medical College Srinagar in collaboration with Department of Microbiology of same medical college after ethical clearance from ethical committee of Government Medical College Srinagar. One hundred (100) neonates out of 731 neonates admitted between octomber2007 and September 2008 with signs and symptoms of neonatal sepsis were included in our study by random sampling method. After history, examination and laboratory investigation blood culture results were analyzed by standard statistical methods.Results: The blood culture was positive in 40% of neonates. Fifty one (51) neonates were males while as 49 were females. Sixty three (63) neonates had late onset of sepsis while as 37 had early onset sepsis. The positive  blood culture was more common in males, late onset sepsis, babies born in rural areas, home born, vaginal births, preterm and other  low birth weight neonates .The gram negative isolates were most common followed by positive ones .The best sensitivity of gram negative isolates was to ciprofloxacin followed by amikacin and cephalosporins while as gram positive isolates were sensitive to imipenum followed by vancomycin. Pseudomonas was most responsive to pipercillin +tazobactum combination. The neonatal mortality was 35% being higher in early onset sepsis and low birth weights.Conclusions: This study depicts a high rate of neonatal sepsis, mainly caused by gram negative organisms followed by gram positive organisms with rising drug resistance that could bear far reaching implications to the times to come, mandating the implementation of sepsis preventive measures and administration of specific antibiotics.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a major morbidity encountered in preterm neonates, especially in babies less than 28 weeks gestation or 1000g. It may close spontaneously in preterm neonates; however, failure to close spontaneously in preterm neonates results in significant mortality and morbidity in them.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in north India over a period of one year. The study cohort consisted of preterm, newborn babies admitted in the hospital with gestational age less than 37weeks and birth weight <2500g.Results: In this study total number of patients admitted during the study were 2930. Out of these preterm low birth weight neonates were 432. Among preterm low birth weight neonates admitted, 132 neonates were excluded as per exclusion criteria. Patent ductus arteriosus was detected in 56 among the 300 neonates giving an overall incidence of patent ductus arteriosus 18.6%, the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus was 56.2% for neonates weighing less than 1000gm, 24.7% for neonates weighing between 1000-1499g, 11.6% for neonates weighing between 1500-1999g and 5.6% for the neonates weighing between 2000-2499g.Conclusions: Thus, incidence of patent ductus arteriosus was inversely proportional to gestational age and birth. Data also suggest that immaturity is the major determinant of the persistent patency of ductus arteriosus.

Background: Viral hepatitis continues to be major public health problem in both developing and developed countries. Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection tends to be mild and insidious in onset, with long term health and economic implications. The aim of the study was to determine prevalence of HC virus infection in hospitalized jaundiced children of Kashmir.Methods: This hospital based prospective study was conducted in the department of pediatric Govt Medical Collage Srinagar over a period of 1year from October 2007 to September 2008. A total of 100 patients were included in this study. Oral questionnaire pertaining to various aspects of HCV virus infection was administered and serum sample of all patients were analyzed for anti-hepatitis C virus antibody by ELISA method using Zhongshan HCV ELISA kit china. Diagnosis was confirmed in positive cases by PCR for HCV RNA.Results: Only two patients out of 100 patients were positive for hepatitis C virus antibody, both patients were admitted as chronic liver disease (CLD), one being 15 years old male and other 9 years old female. Seventy-four patients were positive for Hepatitis A, IgM antibody, out of which 8 patients had fulminant hepatic failure and one patient was HBsAg positive.Conclusions: This study highlights the daunting prevalence of HCV infection in our setup and implicates necessity for raising the awareness and screening of HCV-high risk individuals to decrease mortality and morbidity associated with Hepatitis C virus infection.