Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in developing countries. Identification of the 
etiological agents of neonatal sepsis is essential for effective treatment. Out of 462 cases, 140 
neonates had signs of sepsis, a total of 114/140 (81.4%) samples were positive for microbial growth. 
Gram positive cocci and Gram negative rods were isolated at the same rate (57/114, 50 % each) but E. 
coli was the most common (35.9%), followed by S. aureus (23.6%), coagulase negative Staphylococci 
(CONS) (20.11%). In addition, E. coli isolates showed highest resistance to cefotaxime (100%), 
linezolid (100%), ampicillin (97.5%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (97.5%), aztreonam (97.5%), 
cefepime (97.5%), meropenem (97.5), ampicillin-sulbactam,(82.9%), amikacin (75.6%), gentamicin 
(73.1%), piperacillin-tazobactam (73.1%) and ciprofloxacin (60.9%), least resistance was found to 
imipenem (34.1%) and azithromycin (34.1%). Also, of 41 E. coli isolates harbored 20 hly A genes, 
giving a 165-bp band and 19 fim H genes, giving a 508-bp band as shown by PCR.