Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is characterized by presence of bacteremia and clinical manifestations caused by microorganisms and their toxic products, when neonatal sepsis identified early and accurately, the degree of severity can be easily determined which help proper management. Therefore, recognizing a single marker or set of markers for diagnosis of such problem may help decrease the global impact of sepsis.
Aim of the Work: Evaluation the role of RDW as a marker for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis and a marker for predicting the clinical outcome of the neonatal sepsis.
Patients and methods: The study was a prospective study of 100 neonates (75 cases & 25 controls) who were admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit of Al-Hussein University Hospital during the period from June 2018 to April 2019. A Written consentwas obtained from the parents of patients.
Results: mean RDW was significantly higher in cases compared to controls (16.55 ± 2.56 & 14.96 ± 1.63 respectively) (P < 0.006). Significant difference regarding RDW value that increased in parallel with the severity of mild sepsis to severe sepsis and septic shock (14.80%, 16.50% and 19.25% respectively; p < 0.0001). HB was nearly equal in cases and the controls, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.799), CRP level was normal in 80% of controls, and was elevated in all cases with statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). CRP showed a statistically significant relationship (P < 0.001) with the severity of the disease, higher in septic shock than sever cases than in mild ones (83.03 ± 34.41 & 33.68 ± 9.47 & 20.39 ± 10.40femtoliter respectively). Platelets were lower among septic shock than severe neonatal sepsis and mild forms of sepsis (120.7 ± 41.28 & 172.1 ± 48.88 & 241.4 ±94.95 respectively) it shows statistically significant relation to the severity of the disease (P =<0.001).