Objective It was aimed to determine the presence of early-onset sepsis in newborns born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) and to investigate the changes of blood parameters in these neonates. Study Design This cross-sectional observational study was performed with neonates born MSAF were divided into two groups as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) positive and negative group. Results A total of 3,096 neonates enrolled in this study, and of these 272 with MSAF (8.7%), 76 (27.9%) with neonates were Group I and 196 (72.1%) neonates were Group II. Group I had significantly higher CRP and PCT values and monocyte values significantly lower than Group II, but there were no statistically significant differences between other investigated blood count parameters. There was no association between the platelet, mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit, platelet distribution width, neutrphil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and sepsis in neonates born MSAF. The following areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were found, respectively: MPV was 0.49 (0.36–0.55), NLR was 0.54 (0.48–0.60), PLR was 0.53 (0.47–0.59), and MLR was 0.54 (0.48–0.60). Conclusion MSAF might be a risk factor for early-onset sepsis in neonates. However, MPV, NLR, PLR, and MLR values cannot be helpful for the detection of suspected or proven early-onset neonatal sepsis in born MSAF neonates. Key Points

OBJECTIVE: It is recommended to take a blood culture test in pediatric patients diagnosed with pneumonia. However, the rate of pathogenic microorganisms produced in blood culture tests is quite low. In this study, the results of blood culture tests and some blood test parameters in pediatric patients hospitalized with pneumonia diagnosis were evaluated.MATERIAL AND METHODS: 643 patients who were hospitalized and diagnosed with pneumonia in accordance with ICD10 coding and whose blood culture test was taken between 2016 and 2018 were included in the study. The results of blood culture tests and blood test parameters ((WBC (White Blood Count), ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count), AMC (Absolute Monosite Count), MPV (Mean Platelet Volume), PDW (Platelet Distribution Wide), PCT (Plateletcrit)) and CRP (C-Reaktif Protein)) were evaluated.RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 27.1±38.2 months and 41.8% of the patients were female. Blood culture results were positive in 4.0% of the patients (n=26). The platelet count of the patients with positive blood culture (307.3/ml) was lower than those with negative blood culture (360.2/ml) (p=0.035) but no differences were found in the CRP levels (p = 0.095), total white blood cell count (p = 0.069) and MPV (p= 0.846) values. PDW level was found higher (p <0.001) in patients with positive blood culture (12.7±2.6%) than those with negative blood culture (10.4±1.7%). The most frequently isolated pathogen was Staphylococcus Hominis (n=8, 36.4%).CONCLUSIONS: The rate of detection of pathogenic microorganisms in the blood culture test in pediatric patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of pneumonia is at a very low level. In these patients, the demonstration of pathogen bacteria in the blood culture test is valuable for the treatment of the disease and choice of empirical antibiotherapy. It is necessary to conduct studies on the use of other blood parameters in the diagnosis, treatment and clinical follow-up of pneumonia in children.