C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP) IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF NEONATAL SEPTICEMIA

Abstract

The usefulness of CRP [C-reactive protein] in early detection of neonatal septicemia/meningitis and urinary tract infection was studied in a neonatal unit using a semiquantitative latex-agglutination as a rapid screening method and electroimmunoassay as reference method for CRP determination. In 94% of non-infected infants CRP was .ltoreq. 15 mg/l and 82% had CRP < 10 mg/l up to 3 days of age. After 3 days of age 96% had CRP < 10 mg/l. The initial CRP level was increased in 16 of 18 patients (89%) with bacterial septicemia. Low CRP was seen in 1 patient with total agranulocytosis and septicemia from Streptococcus type B and in 1 patient with Staphylococcus albus [S. aureus] sepsis. A rise in CRP was seen in very pre-term infants with septicemia. Increased initial CRP was uncommon in neonatal urinary tract infection (2 of 9), but a rise was seen in 3 additional patients. A comparison between CRP, total neutrophil blood cell count and band neutrophil count as diagnostic parameters was in favor of CRP at this early stage of infection. CRP is of definite value as an aid in early diagnosis of neonatal septicemia and bacterial meningitis.