Role of Neutrophil CD64 as an Emerging Biomarker in the Evaluation of Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract

Background: Early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal sepsis may be helpful in decreasing neonatal mortality. Neonatal sepsis is considered as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Clinical Pathology, Department of Neonatology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, BSMMU, Dhaka from March 2013 to February 2014. Neonates with signs and symptoms of sepsis, admitted in the Neonatology department in BSMMU and Neonates with no symptoms or signs of sepsis as control were included in the study. Results: We found high percentage of expression of CD64 on neutrophils in patients (67.73±24.74) when compared with controls (8.19±3.64) and also their percentage of expression was higher in culture positive sepsis (76.25±29.07) than culture negative sepsis (42.21±33.24). In the present study, I/T ratio>0.2 had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy i.e. 70.0%, 72.0%, 33.3%, 92.3% and 71.7% respectively. Conclusion: Neutrophil CD64 expression is increased in neonates with early and late onset neonatal sepsis and correlated well with other laboratory markers of sepsis.