Evaluation of Associated Markers of Neonatal Pathological Jaundice Due to Bacterial Infection

BACKGROUND: To evaluate changes of associated markers in neonatal pathological jaundice due to bacterial infection in newborns, to provide an experimental basis for early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal pathological jaundice. METHODS: A total of 126 newborns with neonatal pathological jaundice in the Pediatrics Department of Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University from Jan 2016 to Jun 2018 were enrolled. The patients were divided into bacterial infection group (76 cases with combined bacterial infection) and non-infection group (50 cases without bacterial infection). Peripheral blood was drawn from patients, and levels of inflammatory factors, levels of indexes of liver function and levels of cardiac markers were detected. Correlation between inflammatory factors and neonatal pathological jaundice was assessed. RESULTS: The levels of WBC, hs-CRP and PCT in the bacterial infection group were significantly higher than those in the non-infected group (P<0.05). The level of TRF in the bacterial infection group was significantly lower than that in the non-infection group (P<0.01). In the bacterial infection group, the levels of WBC, hs-CRP, PCT, and TRF were positively correlated with the levels of CK, CKMB, LDH, and α-HBDB, respectively (all P<0.05). The TRF level after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Markers such as WBC, hs-CRP, PCT, and TRF can be used as effective indicators in diagnosis of pathological jaundice due to bacterial infection in newborns. The combined testing of WBC, hs-CRP, PCT, and TRF was helpful for early diagnosis and early clinical intervention of neonatal pathological jaundice, which can lower the risk of clinical complications.