Iranian Journal of Neonatology

Iranian Journal of Neonatology

The Association between Birth Route and Early/Late onset Neonatal Sepsis in Term Infants: A Case-control Study in the NICU of a Tertiary Hospital in East Java, Indonesia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Martono Tri Utomo 1
Nabila Annisa Harum 2
Kartika Nurrosyida 2
Mahendra Tri Arif Sampurna 1
Talitha Yuliaputri Aden 1
1 Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga, Dr. Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
2 Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
10.22038/ijn.2022.63955.2237
Abstract
Background: In 2020, neonatal sepsis was recognized as the leading cause of neonatal death. The birth route can
affect the variety of microbial flora in neonates. Microbial colonization through the birth canal is vital to reduce
susceptibility to infection. This study aims to identify the association between the birth route and early and late-onset
neonatal sepsis in term infants.
Methods: This hospital-based case-control study was carried out on term infants diagnosed with neonatal sepsis at the
NICU of a tertiary referral hospital in East Java from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. Preterm neonates were
excluded as they may be more likely to develop neonatal sepsis. The Chi-square test and odds ratio (OR) with a
confidence interval of 95% (CI=95%) were used to analyze data. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. 
Results: Of 54 patients with neonatal sepsis recruited, the majority had early-onset sepsis (63.0%) and cesarean
section (C-section) delivery (66.7%). A significant association between birth route and neonatal sepsis onset (p=0.046)
was found. However, no significant association was observed between birth route and neonatal sepsis (p=0.321). Term
infants born via C-section were 3.25 times more at risk (95% CI 1.00 – 10.60) of early-onset neonatal sepsis than
infants delivered vaginally. 
Conclusion: C-section delivery can increase the risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis in term infants. 
 
Keywords
Cesarean section
Neonatal sepsis
Term infants
Vaginal delivery. 
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Iranian Journal of Neonatology
Volume 13, Issue 4
Autumn 2022
Pages 11-16