“PLATELET COUNT AND THEIR INDICES AS A MARKER OF NEONATAL SEPSIS”

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neonatal septicemia is a clinical syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms of infection with or without accompanying bacteremia in the first month of life. It is characterized by positive blood culture, thrombocytopenia and elevated C-reactive protein. Septic shock is the most dangerous complication of septicemia. Thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150,000/µL) is one of the most common hematological problems in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs),. Thrombocytopenia in DIC occurs mainly due to consumption of certain coagulation factors and circulating platelets. There may be a possibility of immune mechanism & Bacteria or bacterial products leads to development of thrombocytopenia in septicemia