Correlation of C-Reactive Protein and Blood Culture in Neonatal Sepsis at Integral Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Hospital Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)

Abstract

Objective: Neonatal sepsis is a clinical condition of bacteremia characterized by systemic signs and symptoms of infection in children under 4 weeks of age. It involves systemic infections in newborns, including septicemia, meningitis, pneumonia, arthritis, osteomyelitis, and urinary tract infections. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an abnormal β-globulin produced by the liver during any inflammatory process. The gold standard method to diagnose neonatal sepsis is blood culture; however, it is time-consuming and requires a well-equipped laboratory and trained personnel. To study the correlation between CRP and blood culture in neonatal sepsis. Methods: The present study was a retrospective study conducted at the Integral Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Hospital Lucknow. (UP) All the indoor neonates attending at the Integral Institute of Medical Science and Research Hospital who’s both parameters, CRP as well as blood culture were noted in the microbiology department register during my study period. In the blood culture, samples were collected aseptically and processed by either conventional or automated blood culture methods. CRP estimation was done by a latex agglutination card test. CRP was reported as positive if agglutination particles were seen. Results: CRP positivity rate: out of 235 samples, 72 (30.64%) were positive and 163 (69.36%) were negative. Blood culture positivity rate: out of 118 samples, 71 (60.17%) cases were culture positive and 47 (39.83%) were negative. After comparison of CRP samples with blood culture samples, 90 samples were tested for both blood culture and CRP, and the babies ages were under 4 weeks. Conclusion: So from our study, we are concluding that blood culture is the gold standard method for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, and although we can use CRP as the screening method, this test is not specific enough to be relied upon as the only indicator.