DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF C REACTIVE PROTEIN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF NEONATAL SEPSIS KEEPING BLOOD CULTURE AS GOLD STANDARD

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis keeping blood culture as gold standard.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the department of Pediatrics Medicine of the Balochistan Institute of Child Health Services from October 2021 to March 2022.

Methodology: A total of 194 neonates were enrolled in the study who met the inclusion criteria. Data of all the hospitalized neonatal patients were recorded including age, sex, and weight at the time of admission, cause of admission, and length of stay at the hospital.

Result: There were 194 neonates enrolled in the study. The sensitivity of the CRP test in detecting neonatal sepsis by taking blood culture as gold standard was found to be 56.75%, whereas the specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were found to be 67.50%, 51.85%, and 71.68%. Moreover, the accuracy of CRP in diagnosing neonatal sepsis was found to be 63.40% respectively. A significant relationship was found with p-value <0.05. Our study also examined the diagnostic accuracy of CRP in relationship to gestational age, birth weight, and type of sepsis. The mean length of hospital stay of neonates was 4.78 ± 1.67 days respectively.

Conclusion: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the CRP test in diagnosing neonatal sepsis were 56.75%, 67.50%, and 63.40% respectively. With the added advantage of early availability of test results, it is highly recommendable that it should be utilized frequently in the evaluation of neonates. For a nation with poor health conditions such as Pakistan, CRP will be helpful where blood culture is not readily available and the waiting time for results is much lengthy.

Key Words: Neonatal sepsis, Early onset neonatal sepsis, Late-onset neonatal sepsis, C - reactive protein, Blood culture