Serial serum CRP value for early diagnosis of neonatal septicemia

ABSTRACT

The early diagnosis of neonatal infection is important. Because of its various clinical signs and symptoms it is necessary to resort to methods for detecting and treating them as soon as possible. Serial serum CRP value has recently attracted some researchers attention. Therefore, in this study the CRP value for diagnosing neonatal infection has been examined. This study was performed in Imam Reza hospital, on all newborns suspected of infection within a period of 9 months. These newborns were divided into two groups The first group [case] with positive blood culture and the second group [control] with positive signs but negative blood, urine, CSF, eye and skin lesion's cultures. Serum CRP were controlled at the beginning of the admission, after 48 hours and after 7 days. The sensitivity, specificity, the positive and negative predicting values were examined. The sensitively first CRP had a sensitivity of 61.5% and specificity of 93.8%. Fourty eight hours later, CRP had a sensitivity of 69.2% and specificity of 69%. The first two days CRP sensitivity, [CRP[1,2]] was 74.3% and its specificity was 69%. Negative predicting value of CRP in successive days was 80%. CRP specificity was 98.4% in the 7[th] day. Serial serum CRP is a good method for confirming the infection and to evaluate the response to the treatment of infection