Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Versus C-Reactive protein and Band Cells as Early Diagnostic Markers of Neonatal Sepsis

Neonatal septicemia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period.This study has been done in The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ofzagazig University Hospital from December 2008 to May 2009.The studywas done to demonstrate the value of Band cells, TNF-α and CRP inestablishing the early diagnosis of early-onset and late-onset neonatalsepsis. And to compare the efficacy of TNF- α versus band cells and CRPsingly and in combination in diagnosing sepsis.Our study was carried out on 50 newborns divided into 2 groups(1) 30 newborn babies with positive blood culture neonatal sepsisadmitted in the neonatal intensive care units at zagazig Universityhospital(2) 20 age and sex-cross matched neonates without infectious riskfactors will serve as control group. Each of the studied newborn wassubjected to history taking, clinical examination and laboratoryinvestigations.Our data provide evidence that CRP is the best reliable marker fordiagnosis of neonatal sepsis. CRP is better than band cell and TNF-α indiagnosis of sepsis. Band cells act as a marker of neonatal sepsis. TNF-αis not good diagnostic marker for neonatal sepsis. Together CRP andband cells were good diagnostic marker for neonatal sepsis. They werebetter than TNF-α in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.