Análisis del Perfil Microbiológico y Resistencia Antimicrobiana en Sepsis Neonatal Tardía de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales

The late-onset neonatal sepsis is a severe infection occurring after 72 hours of life and remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units. This study aimed to identify the clinical, biochemical, and microbiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with late-onset neonatal sepsis at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Children’s Hospital between 2018 and 2022. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was conducted including 53 newborns who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected from medical records, covering clinical, microbiological, and antimicrobial susceptibility variables, and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The prevalence of late-onset sepsis in the study population was 9.1%, higher than the global estimate of 2%. Of the cases, 52.8% were female and 47.2% male, with a mean gestational age of 37.3 weeks and an average birth weight of 2,967 grams. Microbiological isolation in blood cultures was obtained in 26.4% of cases, with coagulase-negative staphylococci as the most frequent pathogens (64.3%), followed by Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Enterobacter agglomerans. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria were also identified. The most common empirical antibiotic regimen included cefotaxime and ampicillin, though only 40% of culture-positive cases showed concordance with empirical treatment. Biochemical and hematological values remained within normal ranges in most patients. These findings highlight the local epidemiology of late-onset neonatal sepsis, providing evidence that may contribute to improved prevention strategies, diagnostic approaches, and antimicrobial stewardship in neonatal intensive care settings.