Background: Neonatal sepsis is defined as a clinical syndrome of bacteremia with systemic signs and symptoms of infection in the first 28 days of life. Neonatal sepsis is classified as early onset sepsis (EOS) within 72hours of birth and late onset sepsis (LOS) after 72 hours of birth. Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of mortality in neonates and it is responsible for 30 – 50 % of total neonatal death each year in developing countries. The emergence of antibiotic resistance to commonly used antibiotics lead to difficulty in the treatment of neonatal sepsis. Early diagnosis and treatment will lead to decrease in morbidity and mortality due to neonatal sepsis. Aim and objective:1.To estimate the prevalence of early and late onset neonatal sepsis in NICU 2.To study the bacteriological profile and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern of pathogens causing neonatal sepsis 3.To analyse correlation between CBC and CRP values along with blood culture among NICU patients Results: Most common organisms isolated in our institution by our study from total isolate of 120 are Klebsiella pneumonia were 40(33.30%), Coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp were 17(14%). CRP is elevated in 40% of patients at the admission and 80 % after 72 hours of admission. Most of the patient have total leukocyte count more than 11000 – 72 (48%).67(44.6%) patient have more than 9000 of absolute neutrophil count in per mm3, which indicates bacterial infection. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Gram negative organism isolated in neonatal sepsis isolates show sensitivity in the order of 75 (83 %) Imipenem,72 (79.50%) Piperacillin- tazobactum, 71(78.30%) to Cefaperazone sulbactam, 68 (74.6%) to Gentamicin,, 67(73.40%) to Amikacin,9(60%) to Doxycycline, 52(59%) to Ciprofloxacin, 36(38.5%) to Ceftazidime, 29(37.3%) to Cotrimoxazole, 32 (36.10%) to Cefotaxime, 30(33.70%) Amoxyclav Conclusion: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of death in developing countries which is largely preventable with rationale antimicrobial therapy. The most common pathogen associated with neonatal sepsis vary with time of infection and geographical location. Therefore, continuous monitoring of bacteriological profile in NICU and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern is needed. Early detection of the resistance pattern and strict follow up of antibiotic stewardship program and adherence to hospital antibiotic policy would reduce the emerging multidrug resistance, neonatal mortality and morbidity.

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