Systemic bacterial infections still remain one of the major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Early detection of neonatal sepsis can be difficult, because the first signs of the disease may be unspecific and similar to symptoms of other non-infectious processes. Procalcitonin became a new, sensitive marker of bacterial infections in newborns. The aim of our study was to assess the value of PCT as a diagnostic and prognostic tool of neonatal maternofetal infections. We also tried to estimate normal ranges of PCT in uninfected newborns.
Material and methods: 74 newborns, born in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Medicine of Wrocław, then hospitalized in the Department of Neonatology entered the study. They were divided into 2 groups: group 1-29 neonates with recognized materno-fetal infection, group 2-45 newborns without infection. In both groups blood samples to measure PCT concentrations were obtained by venipuncture on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and between the 10th and 14th day of life (in the group of infected neonates) Sera were stored at -40 degrees C before analysis. PCT was determined using an immunoluminometric assay (BRAHMS Diagnostica).
Results: Serum procalcitonin values were significantly higher in the infected group than in the uninfected neonates (p < 0.001). The most significant differences were noted on the 2nd and 3rd day of life (p < 0.0001). After the treatment had been finished, the PCT levels in both groups were not statistically different.
Conclusions: PCT is a useful tool in early diagnosing and monitoring the course of early-onset infections in neonates, particularly when blood cultures obtained from neonates remain negative. The decreasing concentrations of PCT level in children treated due to infection, indicate successful treatment and may help one to take a decision on termination of antibiotic therapy.