{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T00:19:46Z","timestamp":1784852386430,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,10]],"date-time":"2022-10-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1665360000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening emergency, and empirical antimicrobial prescription is common. In this cross-sectional study of neonates admitted with suspected sepsis in a teaching hospital in Ghana from January\u2013December 2021, we described antimicrobial prescription patterns, compliance with national standard treatment guidelines (STG), blood culture testing, antimicrobial resistance patterns and treatment outcomes. Of the 549 neonates admitted with suspected sepsis, 283 (52%) were males. Overall, 529 (96%) received empirical antimicrobials. Most neonates (n = 407, 76.9%) were treated empirically with cefuroxime + gentamicin, while cefotaxime was started as a modified treatment in the majority of neonates (46\/68, 67.6%). Only one prescription complied with national STGs. Samples of 257 (47%) neonates underwent blood culture testing, of which 70 (27%) were positive. Isolates were predominantly Gram-positive bacteria, with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Staphylococcus aureus accounting for 79% of the isolates. Isolates showed high resistance to most penicillins, while resistance to aminoglycosides and quinolones was relatively low. The majority of neonates (n = 497, 90.5%) were discharged after successfully completing treatment, while 50 (9%) neonates died during treatment. Strengthening of antimicrobial stewardship programmes, periodic review of STGs and increased uptake of culture and sensitivity testing are needed to improve management of sepsis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph191912968","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,10]],"date-time":"2022-10-10T21:07:11Z","timestamp":1665436031000},"page":"12968","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Pattern of Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Antimicrobial Treatment of Neonates Admitted with Suspected Sepsis in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana, 2021"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1659-0928","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kwaku Anim","family":"Omenako","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Eastern Regional Hospital, Ghana Health Service, Koforidua P.O. Box KF 201, Ghana"},{"name":"Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anthony","family":"Enimil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi P.O. Box KS 1934, Ghana"},{"name":"School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Afia Frimpomaa Asare","family":"Marfo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Collins","family":"Timire","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Operational Research, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 68 Boulevard Saint Michel, 75006 Paris, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Palanivel","family":"Chinnakali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry 605006, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9367-1265","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ama Pokuaa","family":"Fenny","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 25, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kathiresan","family":"Jeyashree","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai 600077, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7944-2255","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kwame Ohene","family":"Buabeng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1181","DOI":"10.1007\/s00134-021-06506-y","article-title":"Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2021","volume":"47","author":"Evans","year":"2021","journal-title":"Intensive Care Med."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"745","DOI":"10.1136\/archdischild-2020-320217","article-title":"Global Incidence and Mortality of Neonatal Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"106","author":"Fleischmann","year":"2021","journal-title":"Arch. 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