UTILITY OF C REACTIVE PROTEIN AS INFLAMMATORY MARKER IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF NEONATAL SEPTICAEMIA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Evaluation of tests used in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is important. Infection can present very serious threat to the baby. In such cases, it will be urgent need to know whether the baby has sepsis so as to institute treatment as quickly as possible. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a very good inflammatory marker. CRP is helpful in early diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia, particularly in remote health care centres where there is no availability of well equipped laboratory setup for blood culture.

Methods: This study was conducted between 1^st Jan. 2011 to 30^th June 2011 at SMIMER Medical College Surat, Gujarat, INDIA. In this study, we selected 286 clinically suspected cases of neonatal septicaemia for screening by CRP.

Result: Out of 286 cases, 168 showed positive CRP and 130 cases showed positive blood culture. The predominant organisms were Klebsiella species followed by Pseudomonas species. CRP test showed 100.0% sensitivity and 75% specificity, considering Blood culture as gold standard method.

Conclusion: Blood culture reports are available only after 48-72 hours and this facility is available only in well-equipped centres, CRP can be use as inflammatory marker in early diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia.