Neutrophil: Lymphocyte Ratio, Mean Platelet Volume and Serum Uric Acid as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker of Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Aim of Study: Was to determine the typical pathogens that cause neonatal sepsis in neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, to determine the impact of neonatal sepsis on blood results, and to determine the significance of mean platelet volume, uric acid levels and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Patients and Methods: The study involved seventy cases and 70 matched healthy neonates that were recruited. All newborns had been examined with emphasis on the perinatal history, maternal history and focus on newborn risk factors. Sepsis screen was done in addition to mean platelets volume and uric acid serum levels. Results: MPV was used as a predictor for sepsis diagnosis: at the cutoff value of 9.15 fL had a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 70% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 50%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 94.9% and accuracy of 75%. Used as a predictor of sepsis diagnosis, serum uric acid had a PPV of 60.5%, NPV of 88.2%, and accuracy of 20%. It also had a sensitivity of 65.7% and specificity of 85.7%. Conclusions: Mean platelets volume, uric acid and neutrophil: Lymphocyte ratio serve as early indicators of neonatal sepsis as compared to the blood culture in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis diagnosis.