Assessment of microbiological investigations and role of C - reactive protein in early diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia

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.