Which organisms are common causes of neonatal sepsis?

Which organisms are common causes of neonatal sepsis?

• A. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae
• B. GBS and E. coli
• C. Listeria and Staphylococcus aureus
• D. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Listeria

Answer: (B)

Neonatal sepsis is most often caused by organisms transmitted from the mother or the early neonatal environment. The two most common pathogens are Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli. GBS colonizes the maternal genital tract and, if transmitted during labor, frequently leads to early-onset sepsis in newborns within the first days of life. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis has reduced this risk, but it remains a leading cause. E. coli, a gram-negative enteric bacterium, is the second most common cause and can present with sepsis in the first week of life and sometimes meningitis. Listeria monocytogenes can cause neonatal infection, but it is less common than GBS or E. coli. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause neonatal infections, but they are not as typical or frequent etiologies for neonatal sepsis as GBS and E. coli.

Neonatal sepsis is most often caused by organisms transmitted from the mother or the early neonatal environment. The two most common pathogens are Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli. GBS colonizes the maternal genital tract and, if transmitted during labor, frequently leads to early-onset sepsis in newborns within the first days of life. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis has reduced this risk, but it remains a leading cause. E. coli, a gram-negative enteric bacterium, is the second most common cause and can present with sepsis in the first week of life and sometimes meningitis.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause neonatal infection, but it is less common than GBS or E. coli. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause neonatal infections, but they are not as typical or frequent etiologies for neonatal sepsis as GBS and E. coli.