Comparison of C-Reactive Protein (Crp) With Blood Culture in the Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract

Purpose: Neonatal Sepsis is a serious and life threatening condition. Mortality and morbidity due to sepsis can be prevented by early diagnosis and timely management. Blood culture is the gold standard test in the diagnosis of sepsis but it is time consuming, require well equipped laboratory and trained personnel. C-reactive protein is an important early diagnostic marker of sepsis which help in early assessment of infection in neonates. We aim to assess the diagnostic accuracy and its association with blood culture in clinically suspected cases of neonatal septicaemia. Method: It was a hospital based observational study conducted during June 2021 to May 2022 in the department of Microbiology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur. Hundred fourty cases of suspected neonatal septicemia admitted in Neonatal ICU's of Sir Padampat Mother and Child Care Hospital were enrolled and processed by BACT/ALERT- 3D Automated Blood Culture system and CRP rapid slide latex agglutination method. Results: Out of 140 enrolled cases of neonatal septicaemia, 60(42.85%) were considered as the Culture proven neonatal sepsis cases. Out of these culture proven neonatal septicemia, 52 (86.66%) were CRP Positive. The sensitivity and specicity of CRP in the diagnosis of neonatal septicemia were 86.66% and 45% respectively. The positive and negative predictive value were 54.16% and 81.81% respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 62.85%. Conclusion: Serum CRP is a screening tool for the early diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia that can easily available, rapid method with good sensitivity and negative predictive value. Hence it can be used by clinicians for treatment of sepsis.