Factors Associated with Neonatal Pneumonia and Its Mortality

Background: Neonatal pneumonia is a serious infection of neonates, which accounts for nearly six percent of the neonatal deaths globally. Neonatal pneumonia contributes substantially to neonatal illnesses and related mortality. This study aimed to identify risk factors and mortality predictors associated with neonatal pneumonia in Benha University hospitals. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried on 100 neonates, admitted to neonatal intensive care unit, with clinical and radiological features suggestive of pneumonia. All studied cases underwent complete clinical examination, routine laboratory investigation, blood culture and radiological investigations (chest x ray and CT if needed). Results: The length of NICU stay in days ranged from 10 to 35 days with a mean of 23.7 ± 7.35 days. There were 37 (37%) cases required MV and additionally, 13 (13%) cases required re-intubation. The univariate logistic regression revealed that maternal age, GA, parity, mode of delivery, neonatal age, sex, birth weight, preterm birth, respiratory distress, prematurity, pneumonia, sepsis and jaundice were significant predictors for the need of MV. The multivariate logistic regression revealed that mode of delivery, neonatal age, sex, birth weight, preterm birth, respiratory distress, prematurity, pneumonia, sepsis and jaundice were the only significant predictors for the need of MV. Conclusion: predictor of increase mortality of neonatal pnumonia were maternal age, GA, parity, mode of delivery, neonatal age, sex, birth weight, preterm birth, respiratory distress, prematurity, pneumonia, sepsis and jaundice. Klebsiella spp. and Acinetobacter were the most detected organisms in the blood culture.