Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Plasma Lactate Level in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Neonatal Bacteremia

Abstract

eonatal sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms of infection with or without accompanying bacteremia, neonatal sepsis is caused by various organisms invading the blood stream, which may be bacterial, viral, fungal, or protozoal. Blood culture and routine sepsis screening (CRP, total leukocytic count, and platelets count) are the most common used methods. Although blood culture is the gold standard method for diagnosis of bacterial sepsis, at least 24 hours are needed for presumptive diagnosis. As neonates are vulnerable and rapidly deteriorate, rapid laboratory diagnosis and prompt management is required. Although blood culture is the gold standard for sepsis diagnosis and should be done to all cases suspected with sepsis before starting the antimicrobial treatment, however, studies shows that its sensitivity ranges from 25-45 % of suspected cases. Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological abnormality in neonates with bacterial sepsis. Larger platelets have more granules; it reveals the presence of inflammatory burden and disease activity in many diseases. In the settings of decreased platelets such as bacterial sepsis, young platelets that are bigger and more active enter the circulation and hence MPV level increases.