During a 3-year study period, 33 neonates with omphalitis (with proven cultures) were encountered; aerobic and anaerobic cultures were obtained. An incidence of 2/1000 live births was recorded, with a high prevalence rate of 15.6/1000 admissions noted. Aerobes were isolated from 23 (70 per cent) specimens, whilst anaerobes were recovered alone in five (15 per cent) cases. There were 40 (1.2 per specimen) and 31 (0.9 per specimen) aerobic and anaerobic isolates, respectively. There was a significant detection of anaerobic pathogens such as the B. fragilis group (14), Gram-positive cocci (4) and Clostridium perfringens (3). Beta lactamase production was seen in 25 isolates, recovered from 25 newborns.