Incidence of thrombocytopenia and changes in various platelet parameters, in blood culture positive neonatal sepsis

Abstract Objective: To assess the incidence of thrombocytopenia and changes in various platelet parameters, in culture positive neonatal sepsis. Methods: This was prospective study conducted over a period of one year from December 2009 to November 2010 in neonatal intensive care unit of DDUH Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, North India. All babies who were admitted during this period were evaluated prospectively for evidence of sepsis. Results: sepsis was diagnosed in 560 neonates. Among 560 neonates, 80/560 (14.28%) had Culture positive sepsis. Out of 80 blood culture positive neonates 73 were term neonates and 7 were near term. Gram positive sepsis occurred in 21/80 (26.25%), gram negative sepsis in 54/80 (67.5%), and fungal sepsis in 5/80 (6.25%). Incidence of thrombocytopenia in Gram negative sepsis was (35/54) 64.81%, in gram positive sepsis (15/21) 71.41% and in fungal sepsis was (3/5) 60%. Mean platelet count at the onset of sepsis in all the patients was 123287.5±49428.68. The mean duration of thrombocytopenia in gram positive sepsis was 4.66 ±2.6 days, in gram negative sepsis 4.39 ± 2.22 days and in fungal sepsis 5.2±1.3 days. MPV at the time of onset of sepsis (MPV) was high in gram positive sepsis than in gram negative sepsis (11.57±0.88 Vs 11.29 ± 0.76). The MPV of thrombocytopenic neonates was significantly higher than that of non-thrombocytopenic neonates (p < 0.01).