الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Background and aim: Neonatal sepsis increases morbi-mortality, especially in the most premature-born infants. An early diagnosis of such infections is of importance to decrease the morbidity thanks to a rapid treatment onset. As interleukin- 6 has a rapid kinetic, it could be an early diagnostic tool of neonatal sepsis, enabling to initiate antibacterial treatment rapidly. Method: We conducted a prospective study of premature infants. Interleukin 6 was measured as soon as early onset sepsis was suspected in the first 96 hour of life. We either defined neonatal sepsis as confirmed when there was bacteraemia, or as suspected if the infant presented with clinical sepsis and high C-reactive protein. Preterm infants were classified in three groups according to their plasma IL-6 levels: high positive, low positive and negative groups |