Early detection of neonatal sepsis, dilemma of diagnosis

ABSTRACT

Background and objectives: Accurate identification of neonatal sepsis is an increasing problem facing neonatologists due to non specific clinical signs with no existing single reliable marker of infection. Molecular assays for the detection of bacterial DNA in the blood represent possible diagnostic tools for early identification of bacterial causes. Procalcitonin [PCT] is a promising marker distinguishing between infection and inflammation which cannot be differentiated by acute phase proteins as C-reactive protein [CRP]. The aim of the study was to compare results of blood cultures with eubacterial PCR, PCT and CRP as early markers of neonatal sepsis