Platelet indices as an earlier and economical marker of neonatal sepsis

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening condition which needs urgent diagnosis and proper management. Blood culture and sepsis screening are currently used methods, but their utility is limited due to delayed reporting and increased cost. However, in newborn infants, a close relationship between sepsis and thrombocytopenia and other changes in platelet indices such as increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) has been suggested by few studies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of platelet indices in the early detection of neonatal sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study with diagnostic testing was carried out by collecting data from medical records of neonates with neonatal sepsis who were admitted to the Neonatology Department in DR. B. C Roy PGIPS, Kolkata, over the period from January 2019 to December 2019. One hundred neonates were included in the study, 50 were proven to have sepsis by culture, and others are used as controls (apparently healthy babies). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of platelet count, MPV, and PDW in neonatal sepsis were determined using a 2 × 2 table. RESULTS: The platelet count was significantly decreased, whereas PDW and MPV were increased in septic babies (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Platelet indices can be used to diagnose neonatal sepsis as easily available and cheaper markers.