NEONATAL SEPSIS;

DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP) IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF NEONATAL SEPSIS.

Authors

  • Mohammad Irshad Medical Teaching Institution, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • Mohsin Hayat Medical Teaching Institution, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • Hina Parvez Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • Ihsan Ullah Khyber Medical University Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • Zia ur Rehman Medical Teaching Institution, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2019.26.04.3362

Keywords:

Neonatal Sepsis, C-reactive Protein, Blood Culture, Diagnostic Accuracy

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis keeping blood cultures as gold standard. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Pediatric Unit of Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar Pakistan. Duration: Six months from 09-06-2012 to 08-12-2012. Methodology: Total of 196 patients meeting the required inclusion criteria with clinical suspicion of sepsis. Those neonates were subjected to investigations. C.R.P. was tested using the Quantitative method according to the instructions provided with the kit. By keeping blood culture as gold standard, patients with both positive and negative cultures were taken and the results compared to the results of C.R.P. in these subjects being positive or negative. Results: Among the 196, majority of the neonates included were less than a week old having a mean age of 4.5 days. There were 57 (29%) females and 139 (71%) males, with male to female ratio of 2.4:1. Blood cultures were positive in 85 (43%) and negative in 111 (57%) cases, while C.R.P. was positive in 95 (48%) and negative in 101 (52%) cases. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and predictive values of C-reactive protein were calculated using formulas, and they turned out to be 77.6%, 73.8%, 69.4%, and 81.2% respectively with accuracy being 0.41%. Conclusion: An accurate and timely diagnosis of early onset neonatal sepsis remains challenging to the clinician as well as laboratory. Physicians can prevent unnecessary antibiotic use by performing the qualitative estimation CRP as a single, rapid and inexpensive test with a negative predictive value of 81.2%.

Author Biographies

Mohammad Irshad, Medical Teaching Institution, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.

MCPS, FCPS

Assistant Professor

Department of Pediatrics

Mohsin Hayat, Medical Teaching Institution, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.

. FCPS

Assistant Professor

Department of Pediatrics

Hina Parvez, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.

FCPS Part-II

Trainee

Department of Pediatrics

Medical Teaching Institution,

 

Ihsan Ullah, Khyber Medical University Peshawar, Pakistan.

MBBS, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Pathology

 

Zia ur Rehman, Medical Teaching Institution, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.

D.Pharm, M.Phil (Pharmacist)

Department of Pediatrics

 

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Published

2019-04-10