Presepsin as a predictor of positive blood culture in suspected neonatal sepsis. Issue 2 (22nd February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miyosawa, Yukihide; Akazawa, Yohei; Kamiya, Motoko; Nakamura, Chizuko; Takeuchi, Yusuke; Kusakari, Mai; Nakamura, Tomohiko
• Is Part Of: Pediatrics international. Volume 60:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 161
• Publication Date: 2018-02-22
• Subjects: newborn -- presepsin -- sepsis; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/ped.13469
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1328-8067

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Although the incidence of neonatal sepsis is decreasing, neonatal sepsis remains a severe life‐threatening disease. No current biochemical marker can provide perfect diagnostic accuracy for neonatal sepsis. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the accuracy of presepsin (P‐SEP) as a novel biomarker of bacterial infection for neonatal sepsis diagnosis. Methods: We prospectively studied newborns with sepsis (sepsis group; n = 13) during the first 30 days after birth and compared them with control preterm newborns (control group; n = 18). In addition, we evaluated term newborns with some clinical signs of early onset sepsis (non‐sepsis term group; n = 35). Results: P‐SEP in the sepsis group was significantly higher than in the control group ( P < 0.001) The area under the curve for P‐SEP was 0.868 (95%CI: 0.71–1.00). A P‐SEP cut‐off of 795 pg/mL was established, with 85% sensitivity and 89% specificity. The positive and negative predictive values were 85% and 89%, respectively. In the non‐sepsis term group, P‐SEP had better stability than white blood cells and C‐reactive protein for 3 days after birth. Conclusions: P‐SEP can better discriminate between infections and non‐infectious inflammatory conditions than the currently used biomarkers.