title: Rapid identification of neonatal sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To achieve rapid identification of neonatal sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU) of a teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated fifty neonates who were admitted with clinical features suggesting sepsis or who had principal risk factors, e.g. Prematurity (< 36 weeks), Low birth weight (< 2.5 kg), H/o maternal pyrexia or prolonged rupture of membranes, birth asphyxia, unbooked cases or instrumentation. Five tests, i.e., Total Leukocyte Count (T.L.C.), Absolute Neutrophil Count, Immature/Total Neutrophil ratio (I.T. ratio), Platelet count and C-Reactive protein were used for rapid diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C-reactive protein (C.R.P.) and absolute Neutrophil count had a sensitivity of over 60% with a specificity of 50%. White blood cell count had a specificity of 93% but a sensitivity of 14%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  None of the tests used alone were reliable, but when in combination these five tests may help to diagnose sepsis within a few hours. Also, if the tests show a high negative predictive value, the neonate can be discharged early from the hospital, stopping the antibiotics, thereby reducing the cost of treatment and anxiety of the family.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Anwer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mustafa
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009504:Neutrophils; D010976:Platelet Count; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein