ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF CRP AND PLATELET COUNT IN EARLY NEONATAL SEPSIS

Abstract

Material and Methods: A Prospective study was performed in the department of Pediatrics in territory care institute for the duration of 8 months. Forty newborns were included in the study group to satisfy including criteria. Before antibiotic treatment, neonates CRP and platelet count were assessed. Data were analyzed by SPSS software.

Results: Out of the 40 cases, 22 were male babies, and the rest 18 were female. Blood culture was positive in 19 out of the 40 cases, CRP was positive in 21 cases, and thrombocytopenia was observed in 16 cases.  Klebsiella is the commonest gram organism causing sepsis in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Gram-positive organisms grown are Coagulase Positive and Coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Group B Beta Hemolytic Streptococcus, and Enterococcus. Out of 16 thrombocytopenia neonatal, 15 shows Gram-negative and 1 shows gram-positive blood culture.

Conclusion: Qualitative analysis of C-reactive protein can be used as an early marker of sepsis, especially in resource-limited settings. Although thrombocytopenia occurs predominantly in gram-negative sepsis, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of platelet count to differentiate between gram-positive and gram-negative sepsis.

Keywords: CRP, Platelet count,blood cultures, sepsis.