Evaluation of Risk Factors and Supportive Investigations in the Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis.

Abstract

This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics of King Edward Medical College and Mayo Hospital Lahore from September 1999 to April 2000. Risk factors, blood culture along with clinical features and certain hematological parameters pointing towards the diagnosis of sepsis were studied. LBW (39%) and PROM (31%) were the most important risk factors. The blood culture was positive in 78(527%) cases and common pathogens isolated were Klebsiella 33(42% of all positive cases), Staphylococcus aureus 13(16.6%) and E. Coli 16(20.5%). In culture negative cases diagnostic efficacy of risk factors, clinical features and certain haematological parameters were evaluated. Clinical features most commonly associated were lethargy 41(93% of all culture negative cases), poor feeding 39(88.6%), respiratory distress 18(40%) and hypothermia 12(27%). In the same group abnormal TIC was (<5000 or >20000 in 34%), where as mini-ESR (>15mm in 58%), CRP(’8 in 84%) and I/T ratio(> 0.2 in 77%) was significantly raised. Thus in culture negative patients combination of risk factors along with above mentioned hematological parameters may be useful in diagnosis.