FREQUENCY OF THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN PREMATURE NEONATES WITH BACTERIAL SEPSIS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of thrombocytopenia in preterm babies affected with neonatal sepsis. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of pediatrics, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from March 2021 to June 2021 by non-probability consecutive sampling technique. A total of 385 premature infants with clinical sepsis of Pakistani origin were included. Neonates with congenital malformations were excluded. Age, gender, blood culture, clinical features of neonatal sepsis, thrombocytopenia, and bacterial pattern in blood cultures were recorded. Data analysis was done in SPSS 22. A Chi-square test was applied to stratify thrombocytopenia among age and gender. P≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 5.32±6.4 days. Males were 192(49.9%) and females were 193(50.1%). Thrombocytopenia was present in 168(43.6%) in premature babies suffering from sepsis. Blood culture was positive in 97(25.2%) cases. In 272(70.6%) infant the C-reactive protein level was less than 5. The common clinical feature were respiratory distress (n=246, 63.9%), reluctant to feed (n=243, 63.1%), tachypnea (n=189, 49.1%), vomiting (n=182, 47.3%), cyanosis (n=45.2%) and diarrhea (n=171, 44.4%). Most common type of bacteria were Staph. Aureus (n=78, 22.3%) followed by E.coli (n=66, 18.9%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae (n=48, 13.7%). Frequency of thrombocytopenia was higher in 1-10 days infants (n=149, 88.7%) than 21-28 days (n=19, 11.3%) and was statistically significant (P=.024). Conclusion: The frequency of thrombocytopenia is quite higher in neonates suffering from sepsis so the clinicians should be vigilant in the management of thrombocytopenia to prevent serious complications.