scholarly journals Role of procalcitonin in early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fareedul Hasan ◽  
Shamshad A. Khan ◽  
Maharoof M. K. ◽  
Niyaz Muhammed

Background: Neonatal sepsis is the most common cause for neonatal mortality and morbidity in India, Therefore it is essential that we diagnose early onset sepsis using clinical signs and symptoms and rapid diagnostic techniques and start appropriate treatment without any delay. Various diagnostic tests that differentiate infected and non-infected neonates particularly in the first few days of life can potentially make significant impact on the neonatal care.Methods: This was a hospital based clinical prospective study, done in the NICU department of pediatrics at Yenepoya medical college hospital, from January 2013 to December 2013. Sample size in this study was 50. All consecutive neonates fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were subjected to investigations like serum Procalcitonin, CRP, Total count, Gastric aspirate, Peripheral smear and Blood culture before starting treatment with antibiotics. Positive blood culture was taken as proven sepsis. The results obtained from our study parameters were statistically compared with cases of proven sepsis. Results: In our study 16(32%) out of 50 neonates had proven sepsis. In comparison to the other  markers of neonatal sepsis Elevated levels of serum Procalcitonin was found to be the most sensitive test with sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 50%, positive predictive value of 48.5%and negative predictive value of 100% and with a very highly significant p value of <0.001.Among the levels of PCT moderately elevated (2-10ng/dl) had sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 84.5%, PPV of 62.5% and NPV of 100% and highly elevated (>10ng/dl) had sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 80%, PPV of 75% and NPV of 100%.Conclusions: The use of procalcitonin in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis has proved to be very useful compared to other regular sepsis markers. Procalcitonin performs better than CRP in the diagnosis of neonatal infection. Serum Procalcitonin levels >2 ng/dl has got a better sensitivity; PPV and NPV thus help us not only in the early diagnosis and also in the prognosis of the treatment and helps us in guiding in reducing the unwanted usage on antibiotics.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e2019014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sema Arayıcı

Background: Neonatal sepsis remains an important and potentially life-threatening clinical syndrome and a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study to investigate whether values of base excess before the onset of clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis indicate infection in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Methods: In this study a total of 118 infants were enrolled. The infants were classified into two groups: group 1 (sepsis, n=49) and group 2 (control, n=69). Blood gas analysis investigated for screening of neonatal sepsis. Results: A total of 49 newborns with neonatal sepsis and 69 healthy controls were enrolled. A comparison of markers of sepsis revealed C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 level to be significantly higher and pH, pCO2, HCO3 and base excess values to be significantly lower in newborns with sepsis compared healthy controls (p<0.01). The optimum cut-off value in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis was found to be -5 mmol/L for base excess. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of this base excess cut-off for neonatal sepsis were 75, 91, 86 and 84% respectively. Conclusion: This is the first study to determine the relationship between the decrease value of base excess and early stage of neonatal sepsis. If the value of base excess <-5 mmol/L without an underlying another reason, may need close follow up of infants for neonatal sepsis and it may help early diagnosis.


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 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-48
Author(s):  
Dipika Dey ◽  
Razia Sulltana ◽  
Wazir Ahmed ◽  
Mahmood Ahmed Chowdhury ◽  
Farhana Akter ◽  
...  

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of morbidity & mortality in the newborn, more so in the developing countries. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of Haematological Scoring System (HSS) in early diagnosis of sepsis and its compatibility with C-reactive protein (CRP) and blood culture. Materials and methods: This prospective study consisted of 205 neonates admitted at neonatal intensive care unit of Chattogram Maa-shishu-o General Hospital with clinical suspicion of neonatal sepsis, from July 2017 to December 2017. The neonatal hematological parameter was measured in all cases. Blood culture and CRP estimation were also performed. Blood culture is considered as gold standard for diagnosis of sepsis. Score 3 and more was considered as positive Results: Out of 205 neonates of our study population, forty one (20%) had proven sepsis according to culture. Total leukocyte count showed high sensitivity & least specificity, immature to mature neutrophil ratio showed high sensitivity and high specificity. Platelet count showed high negative predictive value and least positive predictive value. The HSS was found to have a sensitivity of 82.9%, specificity of 79.8%, positive predictive value was 50.74% and negative predictive value was 94.92%. Considering the high sensitivity and negative predictive value, this study implies that score ³3 were more reliable as a screening tool for sepsis than any of the individual hematological parameter. Conclusion: HSS is a simple, easy and rapid adjunct for the diagnosis of clinically suspected cases of neonatal sepsis. It also provides an effective guideline to make decisions regarding judicious use of antibiotic therapy. Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.18 (2); July 2019; Page 45-48


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-134
Author(s):  
Md Mosharaf Hossain ◽  
Mir Mohammad Yusuf ◽  
Md Kamrunzzaman ◽  
Maksudur Rahman ◽  
Md Jahangir Alam

Background: Septicemia in neonates refers to bacterial infection documented by positive blood culture in the first four weeks of life and is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Objective: To isolate and identify the bacterial etiologic agents responsible for neonatal sepsis and to determine the susceptibility pattern of isolates in A NICU of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital. Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted in the NICU from July 2018 to December 2018. Two hundred ninty blood samples were collected and processed from patients in accordance with standard protocols. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was done. Results: Blood culture reports were positive in 9.31% cases. Among the culture positive cases, there were 65.5% males and 34.5% females. Early onset sepsis was present in 74.8% and late onset sepsis was observed in 25.2% of the cases. Best overall sensitivity among Gram negative (Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas) isolates was to netilmycin (61%), followed by ceftazidim (57%) and amikacin (56%).Gram positive (Staphylococci, streptococci) isolates had sensitivity of 50% to levofloxacin, 50% to ceftriaxon. Conclusion: Gram negative organisms are the leading cause of neonatal sepsis in this study and most of them are resistant to multiple antibiotics. Therefore the results of this study suggest that, surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in our hospital is necessary. DS (Child) H J 2019; 35(2) : 130-134


Author(s):  
Mansi Gupta ◽  
Vivek Singh Kirar ◽  
Sanjeev Narang ◽  
Swati Prashant

Background: Infections in early neonatal period are one of the important factors responsible for high  mortality and  morbidity in neonates in developing countries. Although it is being frequently observed by pediatricians in neonates, still insufficient relevant studies are documented.  The objective of the present study was to evaluate the utility of gastric aspirate cytology as a screening tool for neonatal sepsis, and to determine the polymorphonuclear leukocyte count present in smear of gastric aspirate and correlating it with blood culture proven sepsis. Methods: The study was conducted on 100 neonates  suspected with septicemia in inborn patients in Index medical college hospital and research centre. Gastric aspirate sample was collected within 6 hours of birth for septic screening of neonates. All the collected data was statistically analysed by applying  Chi-square test using SPSS 2.0 software. Results: Gastric aspirate cytology has sensitivity 0f 53.19% and specificity of 62.28% with positive predictive accuracy of 51.33% and negative predictive accuracy of 63.4%.The relationship between gastric aspirate cytology and maternal risk factors like PROM are found to be highly significant. Conclusions: We conclude that gastric aspirate cytology in neonates is an excellent screening technique for neonatal sepsis added to a detailed perinatal history and clinical examination. The chances of positivity of gastric aspirate increase as the duration of rupture of membranes increased. Keywords: Gastric aspirate cytology, Neonatal sepsis, Blood culture, Polymorphonuclear leukocytes.


Author(s):  
Vani Krishnamurthy ◽  
Deepti Thandaveshwar ◽  
Srinivasa Murthy Doreswamy

Background: Diagnosis of neonatal sepsis at an early stage substantially reduces the mortality. The clinician often relies on laboratory parameters to support the clinical suspicion. As blood culture takes time and yield is low, hematological and biochemical parameters often guide to the diagnosis and management. Rodwell’s Hematological sepsis score (HSS) has a reasonable sensitivity but low specificity. Some of the parameters included in that scoring system are repetitive of same pathogenic mechanism. A modified HSS was developed by the authors by removing the repetitive parameters, increasing the weightage for low neutrophil count and adding a new parameter - nucleated RBC. Objective of the study was to compare the diagnostic ability of the modified hematological sepsis score with Rodwell’s hematological sepsis score.Methods: Prospective analytical study conducted in a tertiary level hospital. Neonates admitted to NICU and had complete blood count done were included. Babies with clinical signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and evidence of organ dysfunction were considered septic. They were classified as proven sepsis if the blood culture was positive. All the samples were scored for both HSS and modified HSS. The sensitivity, specificity and other diagnostic ability tests were compared between the two scoring systems.Results: Total of 75 neonates were enrolled. 25 of them had sepsis and three had blood culture positive. At a score of 3, the sensitivity and specificity of HSS was 80 and 70% and that of Modified HSS was 84 and 82% respectively.Conclusions: Modified hematological score improves the specificity and likelihood ratios without decreasing the sensitivity in early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 370-376
Author(s):  
Arun Giri ◽  
Vijay Kumar Sah ◽  
Bikash Sharma Poudel ◽  
Niraj Niraula ◽  
Raju Sedai

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. The clinical signs and symptoms of neonatal sepsis are non specific and blood culture report is considered gold standard for confirmation of neonatal sepsis. Organisms and their sensitivity pattern vary from place to place. The confirmation of diagnosis and management of neonatal sepsis is challenging and time consuming.Objective: The aim of this study was to find incidence of blood culture proven sepsis in suspected early onset neonatal sepsis, find out sensitivity pattern of isolated organism and to find association of risk factors and clinical signs and symptoms with blood culture proven sepsis.Methodology: Prospective study was conducted in Nobel Medical College, Biratnagar from November 2016 to November 2017. Sample size was calculated to be 300 and blood culture was sent of each neonates admitted with suspected early onset neonatal sepsis before giving neonates with first dose of antibiotics and report of 72 hours was taken into consideration.Results: Out of 300 cases of suspected early onset neonatal sepsis 70.3% presented with lethargy, followed by other symptoms like poor feeding, respiratory distress, fever, hypothermia, feeding intolerance, abnormal body movement and abdominal distension. Low birth weight neonates, preterm neonates, prolonged duration of per vaginal leaking and low platelets count were significantly associated with blood culture proven sepsis in this study. Incidence of blood culture positive sepsis in suspected early onset neonatal sepsis was 27%. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus(21%) was predominant organism isolated followed by Klebsiella Pneumonia, Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli. All of the isolated Klebsiella and Pseudomonas and 86% of Escherichia coli were found to be resistant to ampicillin. All isolated Coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive to vancomycin.Conclusion: Coagulase negative Staphyloccus aureus was predominant organism detected but majority of organisms were gram negative organisms. High resistance to ampicillin was found and cefotaxime was also less sensitive to isolated organism. Vancomycin was found to be sensitive to all isolated Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus. Amikacin was highly sensitive among causative organisms isolated. BJHS 2018;3(1)5 : 370-376


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1609
Author(s):  
Akansha Arora ◽  
Anil Jain ◽  
B. S. Karnawat ◽  
Rakesh Kumawat

Background: Tuberculosis in children has been relatively neglected mainly because clinical diagnosis has low specificity, radiological interpretation is subject to inter-observer variability and the tuberculin skin test is a marker of exposure, not disease. The recent introduction of Cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test has significantly transformed the diagnostics of tuberculosis in adults but its application for Paediatric Tuberculosis is under evaluation. Therefore, authors conducted a study on role of gastric aspirate examination by ZN stain and Cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test in the diagnosis of childhood Tuberculosis.Methods: Authors did a prospective hospital-based study from Nov 2016 to Nov 2017 consisting of 100 randomly selected patients suspected of tuberculosis who had their gastric aspirate tested for CBNAAT and ZN stain for acid fast bacilli (AFB) along with Mantoux test and other routine investigations. Chi square test was used.Results: Culture positive tuberculosis was found in 21 out of 100 children. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for CBNAAT were 76.1%, 98.7%, 94.1% and 93.9% and for ZN stain were 47.6%, 98.7%, 90.9% and 87.6% respectively. Positive history of contact (p value 0.0217), reactive Mantoux test (p value < 0.001) and low socioeconomic status were independently associated with a positive CBNAAT result.Conclusions: Analysis of gastric aspirate samples with CBNAAT is a sensitive and specific method for rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children who cannot produce sputum. Compared with microscopy, CBNAAT offers better sensitivity and its scale up will improve access to tuberculosis diagnostics in children.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omprakash S. Shukla ◽  
Aditi Rawat

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity, especially in very low birth weight neonates (birth weight <1499 grams) despite the progress in hygiene, introduction of new and potent antimicrobial agents for treatment and advanced measures for diagnosis. The aim of the study was to find correlation of clinical features and risk factors of neonatal sepsis in culture positive cases.Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out in one hundred neonates with risk factors of septicemia after obtaining informed consent. Blood culture was done using Bactec Peds Plus/F Culture as a gold standard to diagnose septicaemia. Correlation of  risk factors, clinical features with laboratory findings was obtained by using chi-square test. p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant.Results: Out of 100 neonates with suspected sepsis, BACTEC culture proven sepsis was seen in 40% cases. Gram negative sepsis was seen in 62.5% cases. The most common bacteria for early onset sepsis were Klebsiella, Pseudomonas and MRSA contributing 17% each to the bacteriological profile. The most common predisposing factor and clinical feature in culture positive cases were Premature rupture of membrane >24 hours (67%) and bleeding/petechia/pupura (72%) respectively. The major cause of mortality was pulmonary hemorrhage.Conclusions: Gram negative organism were more common and associated with higher mortality. Blood culture positivity increases with increase in number of risk factors in neonatal septicemia. A detailed history and thorough clinical examination is vital for early recognition of sepsis. 


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