Evaluating Sepsis Markers Versus Blood Culture for Diagnosing Neonatal Sepsis: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates, requiring 
early and accurate diagnosis for effective management. While blood culture is considered the gold 
standard for diagnosing sepsis, it has limitations such as long processing time and low sensitivity. 
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various sepsis markers, including C-reactive protein 
(CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6, in comparison to blood culture for diagnosing neonatal 
sepsis.