Evaluation of Various Risk Factors in Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms of infection in neonatal period of life. It covers various systemic infections of newborn such as septicemia, meningitis, pneumonia, arthritis, osteomyelitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Objective: This study aims to evaluate the risk factors of neonatal sepsis and early detection of neonatal sepsis with easily accessible, inexpensive, and widely used laboratory tests. Patients and methods: This cross section study was conducted during a period of 6 months, on cases admitted to Atfal Misr Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on 80 newborns who were divided into 3 groups: group A (n = 22): proven NS, group B (n = 18): clinical NS and Group C (n = 40): apparently healthy control. Results: In current study, there was significant positive correlation between MPV with age (r= 0.22 and p= 0.04), WBC (r= 0.66 and p= 0.0001) and CRP (r= 0.77 and p= 0.0001). On the other hand, there was significant negative correlation between MPV with HB (r= -0.74 and p=0.0001), platelet (r= -0.62 and p=0.0001) and uric acid (r= -0.37 and p= 0.001). In current study, there was significant positive correlation between uric acid with HB (r= 0.31 and p= 0.005), and platelet (r= 0.46 and p= 0.0001). On the other hand, there was significant negative correlation between uric acid with age (r=-0.11 and p=0.3), WBC (r= -0.42 and p=0.0001) and CRP (r= -0.42 and p= 0.0001). Conclusion: The presence of the particular set of risk factors can help in deciding the empirical antibiotic and thereby prevent delay in starting appropriate treatment. The combined use of CRP and MPV should be considered in the early diagnosis of NS; however uric acid levels may only be utilized as an additional tool to support diagnosis.