STUDY OF ABSOLUTE, IMMATURE NEUTROPHIL COUNT AND CRP AS DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS FOR EARLY ONSET NEONATAL SEPSIS.

Introduction: Neonatal Sepsis is difcult to differentiate from other conditions due to non- specic clinical signs and symptoms. Inammation in neonates shows variations in hematological parameters. Our study is to evaluate the hematological parameters and C-reactive protein estimation in neonatal sepsis for early diagnosis. Material And Methods: It was a cross-sectional study including 80 neonates admitted in the neonatal care unit, 40 (proven sepsis) and 40 probable cases); blood culture being the gold standard. Hematological parameters, immature to total neutrophil ratio (I/T ratio), Absolute neutrophil count (ANC), CRP and Blood culture were done as per standard protocols. Results: ANC had highest sensitivity of 90% followed by I/T ratio (87.5%) and CRP (77.5%). The sensitivity and specicity for the combination of ANC and I/T ratio was 78.3% and 83.6% respectively. Conclusion: ANC, I/T Ratio and CRP are quick, simple and cost-effective routine laboratory tests which help in neonatal sepsis prediction and to start proper and timely antibiotic therapy.