Abstract:
The objectives of this study were the assessment of microbiology investigations and role of
C-reactive protein levels in early dignosis and follow up of neonatal speticaemia.109
newborn babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of general hospital, Kandy over
a three months period with suspected septicaemia were prospectively studies.Out of 109
babies who were screened,39 babies were confirmed septic,28 were non septic and 42
babies were categorized into an indeterminate group.Clinical features such as poor cry and
activity,poor feeding and jaundice were found to be unreliable predictors of
septicaemia.This study highlights the significance of C-reactive protein levels in 1 or day 2
in early detection of neonatal septicaemia,before sterile fluid cultures confirm and specify
the aetiological diagnosis with antibiotic sensitivity results.The usefulness of CRP levels in
following up septic babies needs to be assessed with further studies.
