Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis

Joseph B Cantey; John H Lee

doi:10.1016/j.clp.2021.03.012

Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis

Clin Perinatol. 2021 Jun;48(2):215-227. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2021.03.012.

Authors

Joseph B Cantey¹, John H Lee²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Electronic address: cantey@uthscsa.edu.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.

PMID: 34030810
DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2021.03.012

Abstract

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates and is challenging to diagnose. Infants manifest nonspecific clinical signs in response to sepsis; these signs may be caused by noninfectious conditions. Time to antibiotics affects neonatal sepsis outcome, so clinicians need to identify and treat neonates with sepsis expeditiously. Clinicians use serum biomarkers to measure inflammation and infection and assess the infant's risk of sepsis. However, current biomarkers lack sufficient sensitivity or specificity to be consider useful diagnostic tools. Continued research to identify novel biomarkers as well as novel ways of measuring them is sorely needed.

Keywords: Biomarker; C-reactive protein; Complete blood count; Neonate; Procalcitonin; Sepsis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Biomarkers
C-Reactive Protein
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Neonatal Sepsis* / diagnosis
Neonatal Sepsis* / epidemiology
Sepsis* / diagnosis

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biomarkers
C-Reactive Protein