scholarly journals Comparison between sepsis markers and blood culture in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis: a prospective study

Author(s):  
Vijay Baburao Sonawane ◽  
Nitin Mehkarkar ◽  
Sonali Gaikwad ◽  
Nitin Kadam

Background: Neonatal septicaemia is one of the commonest causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Accurate and timely diagnosis of neonatal sepsis remains a major challenge to the pediatricians and neonatologists. In the present study, correlation between sepsis screening and blood culture in neonate presenting with features of sepsis is done to accelerate the diagnostic process and blood culture (considered gold standard) was evaluated as marker for sepsis detection and its effectiveness was compared with other septic markers.Methods: In present study, we emphasize to study early indicators of sepsis screen and their statistical correlation with blood culture (considered as gold standard).Results: As any sepsis screen parameters showed little correlation with blood culture, yet on combination it was found that specificity and positive predictive accuracy increased while sensitivity decreased them individual tests. Also combination of tests yield better results than single tests.Conclusions: The combination of sepsis makers yielded diagnostic results than single tests and proved to be an invaluable aid for early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Sagar Sonawane ◽  
Milind Suryawanshi ◽  
Priyanka Patil ◽  
Ravindra Sonawane ◽  
M. K. Tolani

<strong>Objective:</strong> To study the clinical profile of Neonatal Sepsis &amp; the sensitivity of various markers of sepsis screen. <strong>Material &amp; Methods:</strong> This was a prospective study of neonates admitted to our NICU from January 2010 to October 2011 with diagnosis of neonatal sepsis or those who developed sepsis later on during their stay in NICU. All newborns diagnosed as a case of neonatal sepsis, based on clinical features with positive sepsis screen and/or positive blood culture, were included in our study. Blood Culture &amp; Sensitivity was done with conventional non–automated method using Herley’s Broth. <strong>Result:</strong> Common clinical manifestations of Neonatal Sepsis among the study group were Lethargy (96.36%), Tachypnea (92.73%), Refusal to suck/feeding difficulty (76.36%), Delayed CRT, Poor Pulses (74.55%), Sclerema (61.82%), Gastric Bleeding (45.45%) &amp; Feed Intolerance (45.45%). 46 babies had positive sepsis screen (sensitivity 84%), while 27 babies had a positive blood culture (sensitivity 49.09%).


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1103-1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Lakhey ◽  
H Shakya

Background: Neonatal sepsis, a clinical syndrome of bacteremia with systemic signs and symptoms of infection in the first 4 weeks of life is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborn inborn. Early diagnosis is critical, as sepsis can progress more rapidly in neonates than in adults. An attempt was made to establish correlation between early neonatal sepsis screening & blood culture in neonates presenting with features of sepsis. The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of sepsis screen in early diagnosis of neonatal septicemia.Materials and Methods: The study was done in Kist medical college and hospital, Nepal from October 2015 to October 2016.  Statistical correlation between early indicators of sepsis screen & blood culture (considered as gold standard) was established in clinically suspicious cases of neonatal sepsis. Results: Out of 150 cases studied, 72 were culture positive. CRP (77.8%) and immature: total neutrophils ratio (73%) showed highest sensitivity. CRP (66.7%), I/T ratio (61.5%) and micro ESR (60.2%) showed highest specificity. Positive predictive value was highest for CRP (68.2%) followed by I/T ratio (63.8%) and corrected total leukocyte count (56.2%)Conclusion: Serum CRP is the most sensitive marker of sepsis. Use of peripheral smear study and CRP can be implicated effectively as a sepsis screen for early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. The combination of parameters yielded better results than single tests and proved to be an invaluable tool for early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1362
Author(s):  
Purbasha Ghosh ◽  
Rabindra Nath Misra ◽  
Retina Paul

<p><strong>Background</strong>: The incidence of sepsis is increasing globally, with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is still a clinical and laboratory challenge. Though blood culture is gold standard, it sometimes gives false negative result. So, judgement of clinical condition along with various investigations is important.</p><p><strong>Objectives</strong>: To find out the risk factors associated with neonatal sepsis, to isolate&amp;amp;identify the pathogens from various clinical specimens and to find out antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogens.</p><p><strong>Material and methods</strong>: Blood culture, sepsis screen, haematological&amp;amp;biochemical markers, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study, radiology, MRSA (methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus) surveillance were carried out in this study. Some samples were processed in BacT/ALERT-3D system (BioMerieux ) and identified by VITEK-2 (BioMerieux). Epi Info Software system was used to calculate statistics.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: One seventy (65.9%) were culture positive and 88 (34.1%) were culture negative out of 258 clinically suspected cases. Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) 66 (38.82%) was the commonest organism. Among 88 culture negative cases, 38(43.2%) babies were two or more sepsis screen tests positive, 40(45.5%) culture negative babies were with risk factors and 5(5.7%) had radiological evidence of pneumonia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: The clinical diagnosis of it remains difficult as the symptoms are nonspecific. So, blood culture is mandatory. Other diagnostic tests also help in this situation. Blood culture is still the "Gold standard" for the diagnosis of septicaemia in neonates, but culture negativity cannot exclude the sepsis as a whole.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 580
Author(s):  
Kartik R. ◽  
Sahana Manjunath ◽  
Prathiba Doddabasappa ◽  
Malavika J.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis of sepsis is difficult due to its non- specific clinical presentation. The gold standard for diagnosis is blood culture, which is obtained in only 25%-40% of cases and requires 48-72 hours. There is a need for a sepsis screen for early diagnosis of septicemia and identification of culture negative cases. The objective of the study was to study the role of sepsis for early diagnosis of septicaemia and identification of culture negative cases and to compare the rapid diagnostic tests with blood culture singly and in combinations for specificity and sensitivity.Methods: 60 cases of suspected septicemia were studied. Total leucocyte count, bandforms peripheral smear examination, C-reactive protein assay, micro-ESR, and blood culture study was investigated. Results: Study revealed that CRP had maximum sensitivity while band neutrophil ratio had balanced sensitivity and specificity. In the two tests, CRP with PS/BF had balanced sensitivity and specificity. In the three tests combination, CRP with TC with micro-ESR had balanced sensitivity and specificity in proven sepsis, While CRP with BF with micro-ESR had balanced sensitivity and specificity in most probable sepsis cases.Conclusions: Neonatal sepsis has vague signs and symptoms, so high index of suspicion helps in arriving early diagnosis and management. CRP had maximum sensitivity in the individual tests. Using either two tests (CRP + PS/BF) or three tests (CRP + Micro ESR + BF/TC) most of the sepsis cases could be identified and sepsis negative cases can be ruled out. Sepsis screen is helpful in avoiding overuse of antibiotics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-77

Neonatal sepsis is one of the commonest causes of morbidity and mortality in neonates in India compared to the developed countries. Aim: To evaluate the Procalcitonin level this is an early marker in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis and to assess the suitability of this test in the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis. Method: The prospective study was conducted in the Neonatal Division of Department of Pediatrics, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences over a period of one year. The blood samples from 100 babies meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria constituted the material for study. Result: Among the n=100 cases n=39 were procalcitonin positive, compared with gestational age 10 (43.5%) cases were positive with a gestation of <37 weeks and 24 (31.2%) cases positive of cases >37 weeks and there was no statistical significance concerning gestational age the association of material characteristics with procalcitonin positive and CRP positive levels. Blood culture was positive in n=9 (9%) of babies with (90% CI, 5.3-14.9) and negative in n=91 (91%) of babies with (90% CI, 85.2-94.7). Conclusion: A positive blood culture is the only definitive and gold standard for confirming a case of sepsis. Since the culture and sensitivity test requires a minimum period of 48 hours which is a precious time in deciding on the treatment of sepsis in the newborn. Rapid diagnosis by using Procalcitonin and CRP gives a reasonable degree of accuracy in diagnosing neonatal sepsis and will also guide antibiotic therapy. Procalcitonin in comparison with CRP has better sensitivity and hence can detect most cases of neonatal sepsis and better negative predictive value.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Paolucci ◽  
Maria Paola Landini ◽  
Vittorio Sambri

Neonatal sepsis can be classified into two subtypes depending upon whether the onset of symptoms is before 72 hours of life (early-onset neonatal sepsis—EONS) or later (late-onset neonatal sepsis—LONS). These definitions have contributed greatly to diagnosis and treatment by identifying which microorganisms are likely to be responsible for sepsis during these periods and the expected outcomes of infection. This paper focuses on the tools that microbiologist can offer to diagnose and eventually prevent neonatal sepsis. Here, we discuss the advantages and limitation of the blood culture, the actual gold standard for sepsis diagnosis. In addition, we examine the utility of molecular techniques in the diagnosis and management of neonatal sepsis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (13) ◽  
pp. 751-754
Author(s):  
Pruthvi D ◽  
Pavan Ramarao Kulkarni ◽  
Uma Raghavendra Jamkhandi ◽  
Shivakumar Sanganagouda Inamdar

BACKGROUND Neonatal septicaemia is a bacterial infection with positive blood culture in first four weeks of life. The early sepsis screen is vital as it detects earlier and benefits the clinician to treat the infection reducing neonatal mortality and morbidity. We wanted to evaluate various haematological screening parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) in blood culture positive neonates in sepsis. METHODS This prospective study was conducted for a period of one year. Blood samples from hundred clinically suspected neonatal septicaemia cases were subjected to aerobic culture and sepsis screen tests like C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation ratio (ESR), total WBC count, absolute neutrophil count, immature / total neutrophil count (I / T) ratio and platelet count. The culture results were correlated with the sepsis screen tests. RESULTS Of the hundred cases studied, 18 % were blood culture positive and 66 % were males. Early onset septicaemia was more common, seen in 64 % of cases than late onset septicaemia (26 %) cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism isolated in 38.46 % of cases followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae & E. Coli. Among the haematological parameters, the positivity was best with Creactive protein (94.44 %) followed by immature & mature neutrophil ratio (I / M) (94.44 %), I / T ratio (88.88 %) and the least with absolute neutrophil count (66.0 %). Any two or more parameters were positive in 94.44 % of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS Sepsis screen has good sensitivity, specificity and is a valuable aid for early diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia. Sepsis screen is simple, cost effective, less time consuming and easy to perform. As an individual test C-reactive protein has shown highest sensitivity, specificity and is a sensitive and responsive indicator of neonatal sepsis. KEYWORDS Blood Culture, Neonatal Septicaemia, Sepsis Screen


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Bhat Y. ◽  
Phalguna Kousika ◽  
Leslie Lewis ◽  
Jayashree Purkayastha

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 268
Author(s):  
Nely Nelly ◽  
Guslihan Dasa Tjipta ◽  
Hakimi Hakimi ◽  
Bugis Mardina Lubis

Background Bacterial sepsis is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can reduce the mortality rate. Blood culture is the gold standard for diagnosis of bacterial sepsis, but it requires 3-5 days for results. Since the disease may progress rapidly in neonates, a faster diagnostic test is needed. Measurement of procalcitonin levels may be a quick method to diagnose bacterial sepsis in neonates. Some studies found the sensitivity of procalcitonin to be between 92-100%. Objective To assess the use of procalcitonin as an early diagnostic tool for bacterial neonatal sepsis. Methods This diagnostic study was conducted from October 2011 to February 2012. Forty-three neonates in the Perinatology Unit at H. Adam Malik Hospital were suspected to have bacterial sepsis. They underwent routine blood counts, blood cultures, as well as C-reactive protein and procalcitonin measurements. Subjects were collected by consecutive sampling. The gold standard of sepsis was based on any microorganism found in blood culture. Results Of 43 neonates, 36 neonates had bacterial sepsis. We found that procalcitonin sensitivity was 100%, specificity 85.71%, positive predictive value 97.29% and negative predictive value 100%. The ROC curve showed a cut-off point of 0.929 (95%CI 0.713 to 0.953). Conclusion Procalcitonin is useful as an early diagnostic tool for bacterial neonatal sepsis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay Baburao Sonawane ◽  
Sonali U Gaikwad ◽  
Nitin N Kadam ◽  
Jitendra Gavhane

Introduction: Neonatal septicemia is one of the commonest causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The objectives of this study were intended for qualitative and quantitative analysis of diagnostic markers in neonatal sepsis.Materials and Methods: This is a hospital based study conducted over three years (Aug 2005 – Aug 2008). Hundred and sixty neonates, delivered in the hospital, having risk factors for neonatal sepsis, along with those coming to hospital with signs and symptoms of sepsis up to 28 days of life (as study group ) along with normal newborns admitted to the postnatal ward without high risk factors (control group) were enrolled for this study. Comparative study on various diagnostics markers such blood culture, CBC,CRP, IT ratio and Micro-ESR was carried out to know their sensitivity and specificity.Results: E.Coli was the most common organism responsible for sepsis. CRP was reported to be highly sensitive (84.21%), and CBC was highly specific (75.00%), IT ratio has sensitivity of 62.5% and specificity of 56.25% while Micro-ESR has shown sensitivity of 50.0% and specificity of 62.5%,Out of 160 cases, blood culture (BacTalert) showed growth in48 cases in study group while two cases in control group. Thus blood culture positivity was 60%.Conclusion: Blood culture is the gold standard for the diagnosis of septicemia. CRP is most sensitive while CBC is most specific marker in neonatal sepsis.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i2.9788J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(2):111-114  


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