Procalcitonin and Other Biomarkers of Sepsis in Newborns in the Intensive Care Unit

Neonatal sepsis is one of the most significant causes of mortality and morbidity in infants. Among numerous parameters available to confirm the presence of sepsis in newborns procalcitonin (PCT) has been chosen. The aim of this study was the determination of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP) serum amyloid A (SAA), plasminogen, protein C, antithrombin III (AT III) and white blood cell count (WBC) in blood sample obtained by puncture of the umbilical vein. Sixty two newborn infants were included in the study: 31 with suspected bacterial infection and 31 healthy babies Serum procalcitonin was measured using Kryptor analyzer (Brahms Aktiengesellschaft, Germany); serum hsCRP and SAA on the Behring Nephelometer II (Dade Behring Diagnostics GmbH, Marburg, Germany); plasma plasminogen, protein C and AT III on BCT Coagulation system, (Dade Behring Diagnostics GmbH, Marburg, Germany); and WBC count was determined in the whole blood using hematological analyzer ADVIA 120 Hematology System (Bayer, Germany). The obtained mean values of PCT, hsCRP, SAA, WBC, plasminogen, AT III, protein C in newborn’s samples with suspected bacterial infection/healthy newborns were: 0.188 ng/L / 0.121 ng/L; 1.20 mg/L / 1.30 mg/L, 1.28% / 1.70%; 16.0 x 10(9)/L/12.0 x 10(9) / L, 61.0% / 59.0%, 52.0% / 64.5%, 39.0% / 41.0%, respectively. Neonates with bacterial infection had significantly higher values of PCT (p <0.001), WBC (p <0.001) and CRP (p <0.05) compared to healthy babies. Based on these results, it may be concluded that procalcitonin is useful for early diagnosis of sepsis in newborns.