Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance Cord Blood as a Diagnostic Marker of Early-onset Neonatal Sepsis in Preterm Neonates

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

• Rania I.H. Ismail ¹
• Hebatallah A. Shaaban ²
• Menat Allah A. Shaaban ³
• Ahmed M. Emam ⁴

¹ Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

² Background: Neonatal sepsis (NS) promotes unbalanced production of oxidant and anti-oxidant substances, causing excess of free oxygen radicals which may lead to tissue damage. NS carries high risk of morbidity and mortality, thus identification of biomarker to optimize early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions is highly desirable. Objectives: to detect cord blood thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in preterm neonates with maternal risk factor for sepsis as predictors of early onset neonatal sepsis (EOS). Methodology: cord TBARS was measured in 80 preterm neonates with antenatal risk factors for EOS, and classified into two groups: sepsis (n=25) and no-sepsis (n=55). Results: TBARS was significantly higher in sepsis than no-sepsis groups 10.50 (6.5 – 20.5) vs 3.00 (2.2 - 3.8) nmol/ml, (p=0.000). TBARS was significantly higher in culture proven sepsis than negative culture patients. TBARS was significantly higher in died neonates than survivors. Conclusion: cord TBARS in preterm neonates with maternal risk factor for sepsis can be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for EOS.

³ Clinical pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

⁴ Armed forces Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Keywords

• Oxidative stress
• Preterm
• Neonatal sepsis
• TBARS