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 Author
  • Rabia Bhatti international teaching hospital Author
  • Anum Shalamar hospital Lahore Author
  • Umar Ittefaq hospital lahore  Author

Keywords:

neonatal sepsis, C - reactive protein, blood culture, diagnostic accuracy

Abstract

Introduction:

Neonatal sepsis is a life threthening but treatable 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 VRP’s accuracy for neonatal sepsis uning blood culture as the gold standard.

Materials and methods:

This cross-sectional study, conducted at Paediatric department of Ittifaq hospital Lahore over a six month period. After obtaining ethical approval and through purposive sampling, a total of 150 patients were included. After fulfilling the study criteria, history and blood sample were taken for CRP and blood culture tests. All data was analyzed using SPSS version 24. A 2 x 2 tables was used for CRP (>6) and blood culture. Data was stratified by age and gender to addressand chi-square test was applied with p-value ≤ 0.05 as significant.  

Results

Among total 150 patients, mean age was 14.46±7.61 days, females were 64(42.7%) , and mean value of CRP 10.97±13.23. CRP it was found positive in 47(31.33%)  patients, whereas Blood culture was positive in 45(30.00%). The sensitivity and specificity of CRP was 93.33% and 95.24% respectively with overall diagnostic accuracy of 94.67%. Significant association between blood culture and CRP was also found, p<0.001.

Conclusion

CRP is a good diagnostic tool to diagnose neonatal sepsis. Using this simple test ample and timely diagnosis can be made and it can help to start early medical to these high risk cases. These findings support CRP’s utility in ruling out sepsis to guide early antibiotic discontinuation

Author Biographies

  • Rabia, Bhatti international teaching hospital

    Consultant Paediatrician/Registrar 
    Department of paediatric and neonatology

  • Anum, Shalamar hospital Lahore

    Senior registrar 
    paediatric medicine 

  • Umar, Ittefaq hospital lahore 

    Pgr 4 
    Paediatrics medicine 

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Second issue

Published

01/01/2026

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025): Online

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Bintul Huda, Rabia, Anum, Umar (Author)

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How to Cite

Diagnostic Accuracy of C-Reactive Protein in Neonatal Sepsis Using Blood Culture as Gold Standard: A Cross-Sectional Study. (2026). MedPulse Spectrum, 1(2). https://jouex.com/index.php/medpulspect/article/view/25