Role of C-reactive protein in deciding duration of antibiotic therapy in neonatal septicemia

Abstract

In this study serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were used to evaluate the duration of antibiotic therapy in 50 consecutive neonates with suspected septicemia. In 44% of cases therapy was stopped on 3rd day, as CRP was normal. In 8% antibiotics could be stopped within 5-7 days as CRP values returned to normal and in 48% therapy was extended beyond 7th day, as CRP values were high or rising persistently. Negative predictive value of serial CRP was 100% in deciding duration of antibiotic therapy in suspected neonatal septicemia up to 7 days. The correlation between positive CRP, raised micro ESR and positive blood culture was significant (p<0.005).