Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a serious life-threatening condition occurring in the first 28 days of life and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in full and pre-term infants. It is divided into early and late sepsis according to onset of disease. Diagnosis and management of neonatal infections remain challenging. Rapid and noninvasive biomarkers for recognition of sepsis are urgently needed. Objective: We aimed to assess the C-reactive protein in neonatal saliva and evaluate its diagnostic utility in late-onset neonatal sepsis. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 90 full-term neonates divided into 3 groups: Clinically septic neonates: with clinical and laboratory evidence of sepsis but without positive blood cultures, Culture-proven septic neonates with positive blood cultures and Aseptic neonates (controls) who did not fulfill the criteria of sepsis according clinical and laboratory findings and scores. Full history and clinical examination of all neonates were recorded and laboratory investigations in the form of complete blood picture and its differential count as well as high sensitivity serum CRP, blood culture and salivary CRP were measured and compared

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