articleEarly diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in primary health care unit.

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of the study is to find out the role of common haematological parameters along with micro-ESR, I/T ratio in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis for initiating early management. Methods: This is a descriptive study consisting of 35 neonates admitted at a sophisticated institute with clinical suspicion of septicaemia along with 40 neonates as the comparison group. The neonatal haematological parameters including total leucocytes count, absolute neutrophil count, immature neutrophil count, I/T ratio, platelet count were measured in all the neonates. Micro-ESR was measured as a bed side test. CRP was also measured using slide agglutination method and the results were compared with turbidimetric method. Blood culture was done as a gold standard test for sepsis. Micro-ESR more than age of the patient in days +3 mm in 1st hour was considered significant for sepsis. I/T ratio more than or equal to 0.2 was considered positive for sepsis. Results: The study revealed that micro-ESR and I/T ratio were significantly higher (p<0.001) in suspected cases of septicaemia as compared to the neonates in the comparison group. Sensitivity and specificity of micro-ESR were 87.09% and 75.0% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of I/T ratio were 93.54% and 95% respectively. Conclusion: Micro-ESR and I/T ratio can be used effectively as cheap and simple tests to screen for septicaemia in neonate which is possible even in a primary health care centre.