New diagnostic possibilities in systemic neonatal infections: metabolomics.
Systemic neonatal infection is a serious complication in preterm and term infants and is defined as a complex clinical syndrome caused by bacteria, fungi and virus. Sepsis remains among the leading causes of death in both developed and underdeveloped countries above all in the neonatal period. Earlier diagnosis may offer the ability to initiate treatment to prevent adverse outcomes. There have been many studies on various diagnostic haematological markers like acute phase reactants, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukins and presepsin. However, there is still no single test that satisfies the criteria as being the ideal marker for the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. In this regard, metabolomic analysis seems to be a promising method for determining metabolic variations correlated with systemic neonatal infections.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Puericulture Institute and Neonatal Section, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Angelica
A
Dessì
Operative Unit of Pediatrics and Neonatal Intensive Therapy, Mother and Child Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Corsello
Neonatal Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maternal-Infant Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Mauro
M
Stronati
Department of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Health, C. Arrigo Children's Hospital, Alessandria, Italy.
Diego
D
Gazzolo
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Pierluigi
P
Caboni
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Puericulture Institute and Neonatal Section, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Roberta
R
Carboni
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Puericulture Institute and Neonatal Section, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: vafanos@tiscali.it.
Vassilios
V
Fanos
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D055432:Metabolomics; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers
Metabolomics; Neonatal infections; Newborn; Sepsis