Background: Early Onset Neonatal Septicemia (EONS) is a high neonate mortality and morbidity rate. Learning more about the association between maternal vaginal microbiota and EONS can aid in identifying risk factors and developing preventative measures. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vaginal microbiota and EONS in a Bihar tertiary care setting. Methods: The institution of tertiary care conducted a retrospective cohort analysis. 250 women diagnosed with EONS from July 2022 to June 2023 and their offspring participated in the study. The microbiota of the maternal vagina was determined using vaginal samples, and EONS was diagnosed using clinical and analytical indicators. The correlation between maternal vaginal microbiota and EONS was analyzed using statistical analyses and software. Results: Approximately 250 mothers and their infants took part in the study. In the vaginal microflora of mothers, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus were identified. There was a statistically significant difference (p <0.05) in the prevalence of specific bacteria between mothers whose neonates’ developed EONS and those whose infants did not. The vaginal microbiota of mothers whose neonates were diagnosed with EONS contained Escherichia coli in most cases (45%). Streptococcus agalactiae (30%) and Staphylococcus aureus (25%) were also discovered to be prevalent bacteria. Escherichia coli was also associated with an increase in the incidence of EONS (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-5.4, p = 0.02). Conclusion: According to this study, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus are significantly linked to early-onset neonatal septicemia at the tertiary care center in Bihar. These findings highlight the necessity of detecting and treating maternal colonization with these organisms to reduce the risk of EONS in infants. Implementing therapies aimed at preventing and managing maternal vaginal microbiota colonization may result in improved newborn health outcomes and reduced EONS burden.

Background: Early Onset Neonatal Septicemia (EONS) is a high neonate mortality and morbidity rate. Learning more about the association between maternal vaginal microbiota and EONS can aid in identifying risk factors and developing preventative measures. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vaginal microbiota and EONS in a Bihar tertiary care setting. Methods: The institution of tertiary care conducted a retrospective cohort analysis. 250 women diagnosed with EONS from July 2022 to June 2023 and their offspring participated in the study. The microbiota of the maternal vagina was determined using vaginal samples, and EONS was diagnosed using clinical and analytical indicators. The correlation between maternal vaginal microbiota and EONS was analyzed using statistical analyses and software. Results: Approximately 250 mothers and their infants took part in the study. In the vaginal microflora of mothers, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus were identified. There was a statistically significant difference (p <0.05) in the prevalence of specific bacteria between mothers whose neonates’ developed EONS and those whose infants did not. The vaginal microbiota of mothers whose neonates were diagnosed with EONS contained Escherichia coli in most cases (45%). Streptococcus agalactiae (30%) and Staphylococcus aureus (25%) were also discovered to be prevalent bacteria. Escherichia coli was also associated with an increase in the incidence of EONS (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-5.4, p = 0.02). Conclusion: According to this study, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus are significantly linked to early-onset neonatal septicemia at the tertiary care center in Bihar. These findings highlight the necessity of detecting and treating maternal colonization with these organisms to reduce the risk of EONS in infants. Implementing therapies aimed at preventing and managing maternal vaginal microbiota colonization may result in improved newborn health outcomes and reduced EONS burden.