Introduction:

a frequent reason for consultation in emergency services is newborns with fever, and one of the causes is serious bacterial infection (SBI). The objectives of this study were to establish the prevalence of SBI, as well as to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics, and risk factors in newborns with fever, attended in the emergency department of a hospital located in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.

Material and methods:

observational, prospective, and analytical study, carried out between 2015 and 2016. Each neonate underwent a study protocol that consisted of clinical history, physical examination, and laboratory studies. Statistical analyzes were performed using the chi-square test, Student’s t test, and logistic regression analysis.

Results:

112 neonates were included; in 28 (25%) the diagnosis of SBI was confirmed by positive cultures in blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Urinary tract infection (UTI) was diagnosed in 17/28 patients (60.7%), sepsis in 11 (39.2%), and meningitis in two (7.1%) (bacteremia was also detected in both). The most frequent bacterial isolates in urine culture were Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae; in blood cultures, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, while in CSF was Streptococcus agalactiae. A history of premature rupture of membranes, maternal UTI in the last trimester of pregnancy, and being a male patient were associated with a higher risk of developing SBI.

Conclusion:

SBI prevalence among newborns with fever was 25%, with UTI being the most common cause, followed by sepsis and meningitis.

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