ABSTRACT
Background: Neonatal sepsis(NS) defined as life threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) accompanied by an infection in the presence of one or more vital organ dysfunction.
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the clinical value of serum albumin levels for severity, morbidity and mortality of preterm infants with sepsis.
Patients & Methods: This prospective, comparative study included 50 neonates with documented sepsis. Cases are selected from neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at AL Hussein University hospital. During the period from July 2017 to April 2018. Complete clinical examination, history taking and laboratory investigation including albumin was done.
Results: The Results showed that sepsis in male (52%) was higher than in female (48%) , Gestational age in studied group range from 28 weeks up to 36 weeks, birth weight in studied group range from 0.90 kg up to 2.60 kg, the most common blood group was (A+) representing (46 %), (92 %) of them delivered by cesarean section (CS) and(88 %) of them were single birth , the serum albumin levels in 1st day range from 2.50 – 4.20 gm./dl and it is low in 35 patients representing (70%) of the studied groups with neonatal sepsis in Comparison to patients with normal serum albumin levels which occurs in 15 cases representing ( 30%) of the studied groups with neonatal sepsis .The serum albumin levels in 7th day range from 1.80 – 4.30 gm./dl and it is low in 37 patients representing (74%) of the studied groups with neonatal sepsis in Comparison to patients with normal serum albumin levels which occurs in 13 cases representing (26%) of the studied groups with neonatal sepsis .The study show that sepsis among patients with low serum albumin levels was higher than in patients with normal serum albumin levels in 1st day and 7th day.
Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia was frequent among neonates with sepsis. Lower albumin levels might be associated with a poorer prognosis. Albumin levels could be appropriate for the diagnosis and prognosis of preterm neonates with sepsis. Hypoalbuminemia was associated with severe adverse outcomes.