CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

    Neonatal sepsis is a bacterial infection in the blood of newborns, it is a condition found in infant less than 28 days (1month) old. The cause of sepsis is related to the babies’ exposure to bacteria. Sepsis that develops within the first week is usually acquired from the mother via the placenta or from passage through the birth canal. Sepsis that develops after one week is usually acquired from the child care giving environment which include Nurses, materials used during child birth especially if not properly disinfected (Berhmanet al 2004)   Some factors related to the pregnancy or health of the mother may add to the chances that the neonate can acquire this condition, through:-

1.       Complications during labour resulting in traumatic or premature delivery. 

2.       The mother’s water has broken more than 18hrs prior to giving birth. 

3.       The mother has fever or other infection while in labour (Berhmanet al 2004). 

 Septicemia is fatal in about one in four cases because of the effects of large numbers of multiplying bacteria and the toxins they release into blood, newborns and the very elderly usually are at increased risk of this condition (Cheesbrough 2000).

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