DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i07.018

Pages: 2351-2357

This prospective study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Neonatology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from 1st April, 2013 to 31st July, 2014. Our study aim was to determine the usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT) concentration and complete blood count (CBC) values in umbilical cord blood samples in detection of neonatal sepsis. Mothers of both term and preterm having history of risk factor of sepsis were approached for enrolment in the study. After admission of such mother in the selected dept., obstetrician informed about the risk factor of sepsis and parents were approached for collecting cord blood. Analysis of correlation was done using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves were used to determine the individual diagnostic performance of umbilical cord PCT and WBC count for detection of early onset neonatal sepsis. Mean gestational age and birth weight of enrolled infant were 34.89 ± 2.55 weeks and 2053.26 ± 503.75 grams respectively. Twenty-five (54.3%) of these newborns were male. Cesarean section was the mode of delivery for 39 (84.8%) of the enrolled infants. Low APGAR score at 1 min (<7) was documented only in one patient. Among the enrolled infants 6 (13%) were found to be small for gestational age. Common maternal risk factor for sepsis demonstrated during pregnancy were PROM in 71.7%, febrile illness with evidence of bacterial infection in 15.2%, foul smelling and/or meconium-stained liquor in 17.4%, chorioamnionitis in 4.3%, and Urinary tract infection in 4.3% of enrolled infants. The majority of the newborns had only one perinatal sepsis risk factor. More than 1 risk factor present in 6 (13%) mothers. Besides risk factors for sepsis, common maternal problems demonstrated during pregnancy were hypertension and diabetes mellitus in 20% and 17.5% of enrolled infants respectively. Forty-two (91.3%) of the