Dr. Grace Lalana Christopher

Christian Medial College
India

Abstract Title:EARLY ONSET SEPSIS IN SOUTH INDIAN NEWBORNS

Biography:

Dr Grace Lalana Christopher has completed M.B.B.S. and postgraduate Diploma in Child Health at reputed institution, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, South India and subsequently completed her DNB course from Bangalore. She has passed the ECFMG (US) qualification, currently valid. She is a Consultant Pediatrician at Grace Specialist Clinic and Founder, CEO of ‘New Gen Parenting’ @www.newgenparenting.com. and has published several leading original scientific research papers in pediatrics, perinatology and new-born care in reputed international journals as well as presented papers as Keynote Speaker at several reputed international conferences.

Research Interest:

Introduction: Early onset neonatal sepsis is one of the leading causes of perinatal and neonatal mortality and clinicians have to rely on a high index of clinical suspicion as there is no ideal confirmatory diagnostic test within 24 hours of birth. Aims & Objective: The objective of the study was to identify various ante-partum, intra-partum and neonatal risk factors associated with Early Onset Sepsis (EOS) in South Indian newborns. Material & Methods: The study comprised of 2,750 consecutive singleton live births with 244 “EOS cases” and 2506 “Controls” during the period Jan 1st 2015-May 31st 2017. Sources of data were Labor room records, NICU register and neonatal charts. Various risk factors presenting at different intensity levels as odds ratio (OR), mean difference (95% Confidence Interval), number or percent (%) by binary logistic regression and statistical significance set at 0.05 using SPSS Version 21. Results: The incidence of early onset sepsis was 9%, predisposing factors include younger mothers <24 years (P>|z|=0.002), Primigravida (P>|z| <0.001), Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (P>|z| <0.001), Gestational diabetes (P>|z| <0.008), Emergency LSCS (P>|z| <0.001), neonatal risk factors included Low Birth Weight ≤2499g (P>|z| <0.001), prematurity ≤36 weeks (P>|z| <0.001) and male gender (P>|z| <0.008). Conclusion: The incidence of EOS was 9% Various high-risk factors for EOS include young mothers, primigravidae, obstetric complications of PROM and Gestational diabetes, including those born by emergency LSCS, neonatal factors being low birth weight ≤2499g, prematurity <37 weeks and male gender.