Platelets Indices and Different Germs of Neonatal Sepsis

Background: Due to high incidence of sepsis as the main cause of neonatal mortality, early detection and proper treatment are important in reducing of neonatal mortality. Therefore, researchers are looking for a way of early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. Platelet indices are one of these ways. But, can they determine different causing germs of neonatal sepsis? Methods: In this study, the septic neonates with positive blood culture were studied. Neonates with positive blood culture were divided into three groups; Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fungal infections. Platelet count and other parameters of platelets includingPDW( platelet distribution width), and MPV (mean platelet volume) were evaluated, and compared with respect to different germs of septic neonates. Results: In this study 99 newborns with positive blood cultures were evaluated. Of these 13 neonates were excluded because of contaminated culture. In the remaining 86 cases thrombocytopenia, thrombocytosis, PDW, and MPV in different types of neonatal sepsis were evaluated and compared. Conclusions: Although thrombocytosis may be a laboratory finding for sepsis but it is not common in early onset sepsis. Elevated PDW is more common in Gram-negative infections and may be helpful in determining different germs of neonatal sepsis but mean values of PDW in Gram-negative infections are not more than that caused by other germs.