Role Of Complement System, C-Reactive Protein And White
Blood Cell Counts In The Diagnosis Of Neonatal Septicemia In
Gaza City Hospitals
 

Mansour Sobhi El Yazji^1*, Mona Ishak Fahid², Azhar Abed El Karim Hussein³,
Abed El Hakeem Noman El Jadba^4
1Department of Biology, Alaqsa University, Gaza, (PALESTINE)
²Department of microbiology, Faculty of women for Art, Science and Education, (EGYPT)
³Department of microbiology, Faculty of women for Art, Science and Education, (EGYPT)
4Al Dora Pediatric hospital, Gaza, (PALESTINE)

Objective: to evaluate the serum levels of complement, CRP and WBCs count for diagnosis of neonatal septicemia in Neonatal Intensive care units (NICU) in Gaza City Hospitals. Methodology: This prospective descriptive study was carried out in Al-Nasser and Al-Shifa hospitals in Gaza City, between January 2004 to January 2005. Blood Samples were collected at admission and during infection. Results: five hundred seventy nine enrolled babies, 193 (33%) were classified as early-onset septicemia, 135 (23%) as late-onset septicemia and 251 (44%) as a nosocomial septicemia. WBCs count were low at 7% of cases, and high at 23% of cases at admission while leucocytosis were recorded in 30% of cases at follow up. Values of C-reactive protein were higher is septicemic neonates with a positive blood culture exhibiting 72%. The concentrations of C3 & C4 levels were low in (99%) of cases at admission, while after infections took place, (33%) had a normal level, 67% had increased levels of C3, whereas C4 shows low levels (64%) at admission and increased in (79%) of cases after proven infection. Conclusion: our study suggests that no individual test can diagnose infected neonates, and that although the combination of WBCs count, C-reactive protein values and C3 & C4 levels exhibits a high specificity.