Neonatal Sepsis, 2006

Neonatal sepsis was added to the Minnesota Rules Governing Communicable Diseases in September 2005, and surveillance and collection of isolates in addition to group B Streptococcus began in January 2006. This statewide effort includes reporting of all bacteria other than coagulase-negative Staphylococcus isolated from a sterile site in infants less than 7 days of age. The most prevalent sterile sites have been in blood and CSF.

The 2006 summary for Minnesota neonatal sepsis organisms in infants <7 days of age is as follows:

• 25 Group B Streptococcus,
• 13 Escherichia coli,
• 8 Staphylococcus aureus,
• 8 Streptococcus viridians,
• 4 Corynebacterium
• 2 Haemophilus influenzae,
• 2 Micrococcus,
• 2 Propionibacteria,
• 2 Enterococcus, and
• 1 each Group D Streptococcus, Streptococcus bovis, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Neisseria subfl ava, Morganella morganii, Kingella dentrificans, Kocuria kristinae, Paenibacillus, and Leuconostoc species.

Isolates were received for 55 of 75 identified neonatal sepsis organisms.

To download copies of our neonatal sepsis poster or report forms or for more information on neonatal sepsis surveillance activities in Minnesota, please visit: Neonatal Sepsis.

• For up to date information see>> Neonatal Sepsis
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2006