Study of Platelet Count and Platelet Indices in Neonatal Sepsis in Tertiary Care Institute

Aims and Objectives: To correlate degree of thrombocytopenia and platelet indices with neonatal sepsis in our NICU set up. Materials and Methods: After taking approval from ethical committee of our institute, we studied total 150 cases over a span of 24 months, from August 2013 to August 2015. Peripheral blood was drawn from all the study subjects under aseptic precautions in EDTA bulb. A complete hemogram was performed using Beckman Coulter. Latex agglutination kit was used for CRP estimation. Different organisms were isolated by Bactecblood culture. Results: Out of 150 neonates 40(26%) cases were sepsis proven, 63 (42%) ases had suspected infection and 47(31%) cases were non infected. Male constituted 84(56%) cases and females constituted 66(44%) cases. 35(87.5%) cases out of proven sepsis were preterm neonates. Out of 40 sepsis proven cases CRP was increased in 31 (77.5%) neonates. Gram negative organisms were more common than gram positive organisms. Pseudomonas was most common organism, and was isolated in 16 (40%) cases. Staphylococcus organism isolated in 7 (17.5%) cases. 23 (57.5%) of sepsis proven cases showed severe degree of thrombocytopenia and was seen mainly with Pseudomonas organisms. In platelet indices PDW was significantly increased in newborns with sepsis. Whereas MPV was also increased in sepsis cases but was not significant. Conclusion: Variation in the degree of thrombocytopenia and platelet indices was seen in neonatal sepsis. Severe degree of thrombocytopenia associated with proven sepsis. PDW was significantly increased in newborns with sepsis. Gram negative organisms were common cause of neonatal sepsis.