[Usefulness of C-reactive protein for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis]. / Utilidad de la proteína C reactiva para el diagnóstico de sepsis neonatal.

With the object to determine the utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. We proceeded to create the prospective study of cases and controls of newborn included in the study of neonatal sepsis in the Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia. We measured the seric CRP in samples obtained by capillary punction simultaneously with blood culture and/or CSF culture, for bacterial infection criteria. We included 64 newborn divided in two groups: 42 patients were not infected and 22 cases had positive cultures. The results in the uninfected newborn group of CRP were negative to positive dilutions 1:32; with the newborn infected the CRP had values of 1:32 to 1:2048. The probability to find values equal or major to 1:32 in the infected newborn with positive cultures the CRP have values of sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 93% to get this values. We accept that the CRP could be used systematically for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, being a simple procedure and accessible for use in the newborn with sepsis suspicion.

[Determination of C-reactive protein in low-risk newborn infants]. / Determinación de la proteína C reactiva en neonatos de bajo riesgo.

We present the results of the determination of C-reactive protein (CRP) in neonates with low risk of developing infection and without obstetric trauma. In determining the values of CRP we used the technique of latex agglutination. We included 56 neonates determining the changes in the values obtained in samples of cord blood and 24 hours. At birth, in 51 cases, the CRP was negative (0.91), 4 cases were positive at a dilution 1:4 (0.07) and one case at a dilution 1:8 (0.02). At 24 hours, in 47 cases (0.84) the CRP was negative; in 6 cases (0.04), at a dilution 1:8 and one more positive result at a dilution 1:6. There was not difference in the dilutions of the CRP in relation to the moment of sampling. We suggest that the method of latex agglutination is useful in sistemating the application use of CRP in neonates.