Insights into the prevalence and the antimicrobial activity of natural product against Pantoea spp isloated from neonatal intensive care unit

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in a neonate. Pantoea species (Pantoea spp < /em>) has attracted considerable attention as an emerging neonatal pathogen and has been associated with life-threatening septic arthritis, occupational respiratory infections, and bloodstream infections in neonates and infants globally. Methods: We aimed to determine the prevalence of Pantoea spp from neonatal sepsis cases, and the sources of its infection. Pantoea spp isolates were isolated and identificatied by conventional methods then, they were confirmed by VITEK 2 and conventional PCR. Furthermore, we evaluated the antimicrobial profile of Pantoea spp < /em>. Also we studied the antimicrobial effect of anise oil and peppermint oil by using the MIC method, and hibiscus and lactoferrin by using the cup diffusion method. Results: we reported three cases (6%) of neonatal sepsis caused by the emerging life-threatening pathogen Pantoea spp < /em> in the NICU of Assuit University. The organism was also detected in contaminated powder infant formula (PIF) and parentral nutrition (PN) in 16% and 2%, respectively which may be sources of infection for neonates. Conclusion: PIF and PN may by source of Pantoea spp < /em> infection. Anise oil , peppermint oil , hibiscus and lactoferrin have antimicrobial effect against Pantoea spp.