Evaluation of serum albumin level among preterm septicemic newborn infants

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of serum albumin levels for the evaluation and prognosis of preterm infants with neonatal sepsis. Background Neonatal sepsis is considered a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm newborn infants, as the mortality rates due to neonatal sepsis range between 3 and 50%, particularly with Gram negative pathogens. Nowadays, serum albumin has been suggested to be a valuable marker for prognosis of neonatal septicemia. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 85 preterm neonates, 46 male and 39 female, admitted within 24 h of life to neonatal intensive care unit in the period from March 2016 to January 2017. Patients were grouped according to their serum albumin level (≥3, 2.5–3, or ≤2.5 g/dl) or according to their discharge diagnosis (sepsis, neonatal infection, or no infection). Results There was a highly significant difference between discharge diagnosis groups as regards their serum albumin levels, and also there was a significant correlation between serum albumin level and both clinical and hematological sepsis scores. Conclusion Albumin was proven to be a marker in the diagnosis of neonatal septicemia.