Research
Prospective evaluation of the usefulness of C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in a sub-Saharan African region
1 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
2 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayels State, Nigeria
3 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakahia, Rivers State, Nigeria
Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control 2012, 1:22 doi:10.1186/2047-2994-1-22
Published: 1 June 2012Abstract
Background
Sepsis is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the newborn. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital to improve outcome. The present study was therefore carried out to determine the usefulness of C-reactive protein (CRP) for evaluation of neonatal sepsis in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Method
Four hundred and twenty neonates with clinical suspicion of sepsis were prospectively studied over a 6 month period. Blood was obtained from each subject recruited for the qualitative estimation of CRP. Blood culture was used as gold standard for diagnosis of NNS.
Results
Of 420 neonates studied, 196 (46.7%) had positive CRP while 181 (43.1%) had positive blood culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of CRP were 74.0%, 74.1%, 68.4% and 79.0% respectively.
Conclusion
The qualitative method of estimating CRP which is cheap and rapid has moderate sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value.
