Neonatal sepsis had been one of the dreaded forms of disease with very high mortality even in the best of centers. One of the reason for such a catastrophe is that the condition is diagnosed relatively a bit late. Neonatal sepsis always is both a diagnostic as well as therapeutic challenge to the paediatricians.
Dr. Irmeli Nupponen and Finnish colleagues, as a result of an extensive research have come out with a breakthrough in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. The expression of CD11b on neutrophils and levels circulating interleukin 8 (IL-8) may identify early-onset sepsis in neonates according to these researchers from the University of Helsinki.The researchers studied 39 neonates with suspected infection within 48 hours after birth. They divide the study group into two, those with sepsis, based on culture results and those who are called a possible-infection group.
The investigators found that for 35 children of the available data, CD11b and IL-8 was increased in the children with confirmed sepsis. It was found that the sensitivity and specificity by the CD11b test for sepsis were equal, at 1.00 and those by the IL-8 test 0.91 and 1.00, respectively.
The investigators conclude that the findings "may be helpful in planning strategies safely to diminish the use of antimicrobials in neonates with clinical signs of early-onset sepsis."
