National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of mortality in developing countries. Accurate and quick diagnosis is difficult because of non-specific signs and symptoms, cultures being time-consuming and other laboratory tests lack sensitivity and specificity. This study was designed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Procalcitonin (PCT) levels, as a diagnostic marker of early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS). 150 neonates admitted to neonatal ward with signs suggestive of neonatal sepsis were recruited into the study. Prior to commencement of antibiotics, the following investigations were carried out on neonates: blood culture, PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) estimation. The PCT levels were measured by human procalcitonin ELISA kit. The neonates were categorized into proven, probable and clinical sepsis on the basis of laboratory findings. Predictive values and area under the ROC curve of PCT were evaluated. Out of 150 neonates, 44 had positive blood cultures. PCT level was significantly higher in neonates with proven sepsis (p <0.05). At a cut-off of 1.32ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity, PPV and NPV of PCT in early onset neonatal sepsis was found to be 86.3 %, 44.34 %, 39.58 % and 88.68 % respectively for proven sepsis. These findings support usefulness of the PCT in diagnosis of EONS.
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