Clinical Utility of Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein in the Management of Neonatal Sepsis in a Resource-Limited Nigerian Hospital

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is an invasive infection of the bloodstream in neonates and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among them. Aim: To investigate the role of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the management of neonatal sepsis. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective case–control study over one-year period using convenience sampling. Blood samples for PCT and CRP were taken from all neonates, while blood culture and white blood cell count samples were additionally taken from babies with neonatal sepsis. PCT and CRP were repeated at 24 and 48 hours. The continuous variables were found to have a nonparametric distribution. They were presented as median and interquartile range, and compared using Wilcoxon signed rank and Friedman test as appropriate. Results: The blood culture analysis yielded a prevalence of 12.7% with Staphylococcus aureus being the commonest organism. Baseline concentrations of PCT (1.28 ng/ml) and CRP (17.31 mg/L) in neonates with sepsis were higher than that of controls (PCT—0.63 ng/ml, CRP—5.40 mg/L). PCT concentrations decreased after two days of antibiotic treatment, while CRP concentrations decreased after a day. The concentration of both decreased to normal levels after two days of treatment. Conclusion: This study showed that CRP was more reliable in monitoring antibiotic therapy, unlike other studies which suggested PCT. In cases where the management of neonatal sepsis may be limited by a low blood culture yield, therapeutic monitoring may be aided by CRP and/or PCT.