Objective: To evaluate the duration of antibiotic therapy in neonates with suspected
septicemia.
Methods: The study was conducted prospectively on fifty consecutive neonates with
suspected septicemia in the Department of Pediatrics, Prince Zeid Hospital, Tafila,
Jordan, from January 2006 to June 2006. CRP was measured at various points.
Results: In 44% of cases therapy was stopped on 3rd day, as CRP was normal. In 8%
antibiotics could be stopped within 5-7 days as CRP values returned to normal and in
48% therapy was extended beyond 7th day, as CRP values were high or rising
persistently. Negative predictive value of serial CRP was 100% in deciding duration
of antibiotic therapy in suspected neonatal septicemia up to 7 days.
Conclusion: The correlation between positive CRP, raised micro ESR and positive
blood culture was significant (p
Key words: C-reactive protein, Newborn, Sepsis
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