Comparative Analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy of I:T (Immature to Total Neutrophil Ratio) & CRP in Screening of Neonatal Sepsis

Background Neonatal Sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms of infection, identified & confirmed by positive blood cultures. It is one of the important cause of morbidity and mortality particularly in the developing countries & constitutes the Commonest cause of neonatal death accounting for 52 % of total neonatal deaths. Methodology The 2 parameters used for screening neonatal sepsis were immature to total neutrophil ratio (IT Ratio) which was determined on Giemsa stained smears & CRP which was estimated by the semi quantitative latex agglutination method. Conclusion IT is the single & most useful parameter for early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. It has reasonably good sensitivity & can predict neonatal sepsis early with reasonable accuracy. I T Ratio is more specific than CRP, thus it can more accurately be used for ruling out proven sepsis.