A study on platelet count and their indices as a marker of neonatal sepsis

Abstract

Objectives . Effect of sepsis on platelet counts and their indices. . Monitoring of platelet count and their indices in neonatal sepsis in relation to specific organisms. . To identify organism involved in proven neonatal sepsis affecting platelet indices. Design: Prospective hospital based study. Setting: The study subjects are all neonates admitted in Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences and has proven sepsis. Method: The study was carried out over a period of one and half year from December 2019 to July 2020 at Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences. 100 cases were considered for this study after proper screening for CBC, platelet count and their indices like mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and CRP and blood culture in neonates admitted in our NICU with proven sepsis. Results: A total of 100 neonates with blood culture positive for bacterial cases were considered for the study. Early onset septicaemia (59%) was more common than late onset septicaemia (41%). Out of 100 cases 57% cases had growth of gram negative organisms, 40% had growth of gram positive organisms and 3% had growth of fungal. Tachypnea (27%), Lethargy (20%) and refusal of feeds (8%) were the commonest clinical presentation followed by, Fever (6%), convulsions (5%) and jaundice (5%). 60% neonates has thrombocytopenia of varying severity. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism associated with thrombocytopenia (43.3%%). MPV was high in 85% of cases and PDW was high in 96% of cases. Conclusion: The present study highlights the association of thrombocytopenia, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width with causative organism in proven neonatal sepsis. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism causing thrombocytopenia in our NICU.