DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN NEONATAL SEPSIS USING BLOOD CULTURE AS GOLD STANDARD: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Authors

  • Bintul Huda College of Medicine and Dentistry at the Hills Abbottabad, KP Pakistan Author
  • Rabia Munir Bhatti International Teaching Hospital, Punjab Pakistan Author
  • Anam Arif Shalamar Hospital Lahore, Punjab Pakistan Author
  • Umar Rasool Ittefaq Hospital Lahore, Punjab Pakistan Author

Keywords:

C - reactive protein, Neonatal sepsis, Blood culture, Diagnostic accuracy

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening but treatable condition if diagnosed early, though its nonspecific signs can delay detection. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a helpful marker, but its diagnostic accuracy varies. This study evaluates CRP’s accuracy in diagnosing neonatal sepsis, using blood culture as the gold standard. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Paediatric department of Ittifaq Hospital, Lahore, over a six-month period. A total of 150 patients were included. After fulfilling the study criteria, Informed consent from either parent, as well as a detailed history and a blood sample, were taken for CRP and blood culture tests. All data were analysed using SPSS-24. The data were stratified by age and gender to address the issue, and a chi-square test was applied with a p≤0.05 considered significant. Result: Among the total 150 patients, the mean age was 14.46±7.61 days, with 64 (42.7%) females, and the mean CRP was 10.97±13.23. CRP was found positive in 47 (31.33%) patients, whereas Blood culture was positive in 45 (30.00%). The sensitivity and specificity of CRP were 93.33% and 95.24% respectively, with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 94.67%. A significant association was also found between blood culture and CRP, p<0.001. Conclusion: CRP is a good diagnostic tool for diagnosing neonatal sepsis. Using this simple test, an accurate and timely diagnosis can be made, and it can help initiate early medical treatment for these high-risk cases. These findings support CRP’s utility for ruling out sepsis and guiding early antibiotic discontinuation.

Author Biographies

  • Bintul Huda, College of Medicine and Dentistry at the Hills Abbottabad, KP Pakistan

    Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Assistant Professor, MBBS, FCPS

  • Rabia Munir, Bhatti International Teaching Hospital, Punjab Pakistan

    Department of Paediatric and Neonatology, Consultant Paediatrician/Registrar MBBS, FCPS

  • Anam Arif, Shalamar Hospital Lahore, Punjab Pakistan

    Department of Paediatric and Neonatology, Consultant Senior Registrar, MBBS, FCPS

  • Umar Rasool, Ittefaq Hospital Lahore, Punjab Pakistan

    Department of Paediatric and Neonatology, Postgraduate Resident-4, MBBS, FCPS(cc)

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12/31/2025

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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025): Online

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DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN NEONATAL SEPSIS USING BLOOD CULTURE AS GOLD STANDARD: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY. (2025). MedPulse Spectrum, 1(2), 18-21. https://jouex.com/index.php/medpulspect/article/view/25