Study on the Changes in Common Laboratory Parameters in Dengue Patients with Secondary Bacterial Infection

Secondary bacterial infection can adversely affect the clinical course of primary viral indengue fever. Time consuming microbiological culture confirmations and false negative resultsdelay timely initiation antibiotics. The objective this study was to describe variation in thecommon laboratory parameters during illness, identify criteria that may predict secondary bacterialinfection before microbial confirmation, common organisms causing secondarybacterial infections their antibiotic sensitivity patterns. A retrospective case-control carriedout at Dengue Management Unit National Institute Infectious Diseases, Sri Lanka. Patientstreated with antibiotics upon suspicion or confirmation andpatients not treated were selected for study. Total WBC count, absolute neutrophilcount, platelet HCT (Hematocrit), CRP (C Reactive Protein) average body temperature wererecorded. Independent sample t-test used analyze data. Study results showed most positivemicrobial cultures detected on 6th 7th days illness. Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, andnon-speciated Gram-positive cocci commonly isolated organisms. Patients confirmedsecondary had significantly higher neutrophil count (3.32±0.35x103/μL, p<0.05) andlower counts (49.33±7.66x103/μL, 5th day illness respectively. Theaverage group than control from fever day3 onwards (p<0.05). subjects more likely have lower values(38.62±1.12%, controls third fourth Overall, present studysuggests co-infection increases mortality rate dengue patients. inabsolute pattern compared beused along early prediction infection.
 Keywords: dengue, infection, antibiotics,