ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the clinical utility of direct fluorescent assay in buffy coat in the diagnosis of Candida sepsis (CS) in neonates. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and 22 neonates with suspected CS were enrolled. Fungus isolation from blood cultures and direct fluorescent tests in buffy coat were performed and validity parameters were estimated. RESULTS: Candida was isolated in 13/22 (59%) blood cultures. The direct fluorescent test was positive in 12/13 and 1/9 cases with positive and negative blood culture as corresponding. Estimated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likehood ratio and negative likehood ratio were 92%, 89%, 92%, 89%, 8.31 and 0.09, respectively. CONCLUSION: The direct fluorescent assay in buffy coat might be useful to support early and accurate diagnosis of CS in neonates.
Subject(s)
Blood Buffy Coat/microbiology , Candida/isolation & purification , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct , Neonatal Sepsis/diagnosis , Candidemia/blood , Candidemia/diagnosis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Early Diagnosis , Female , Gestational Age , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Mycological Typing Techniques , Neonatal Sepsis/microbiology , Predictive Value of TestsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of serum lipid peroxide (LPO) for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in full-term neonates. STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic test evaluation forming three groups: (1) healthy full-term neonates (n=59), (2) at-risk full-term neonates without HIE (n=57) and (3) at-risk full-term neonates with HIE (n=57). HIE diagnosis was made using the Finer clinical classification at 48 h after birth. Serum LPO was taken at 4 h after birth and determined by spectrophotometry. RESULT: One hundred seventy-three full-term neonates were studied. Fifty-one of the at-risk full-term neonates with HIE (51/57) had high serum LPO and two of the at-risk full-term neonates without HIE (2/57) (P<0.001). Serum LPO level had 89% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 96% positive predictive value, 90% negative predictive value, 24 positive probability ratio, 0.11 negative probability ratio and 92% diagnostic usefulness. CONCLUSION: Serum LPO level could be a useful test for early diagnosis of HIE in full-term neonates.
