What is the most common causative agent of early onset neonatal sepsis?

The most common causative agent of early onset neonatal sepsis is Group B Streptococcus (GBS). This bacterium is part of the normal flora found in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of some women. During delivery, if the newborn is exposed to GBS, it can lead to sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis within the first week of life.

The prevalence of GBS in neonatal sepsis is significant; therefore, guidelines for prenatal care often include screening pregnant women for GBS colonization. Prophylactic antibiotics can be administered during labor to reduce the risk of transmission during delivery, which helps lower the rate of early onset sepsis in neonates.

Other pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are also known to cause infections in neonates, but GBS remains the leading cause of early onset sepsis, highlighting the critical need for awareness and management in maternal care to protect newborns.