Serum Neopterin Level In Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis

Neonatal sepsis is the systemic response to infection in the new born infant younger than one month of age and is categorized as early or late neonatal sepsis. Each year, an estimated four million neonatal deaths occur globally. Infections account for about 36% of these deaths. Warning signs and symptoms are often subtle and can easily be confused with non-infective causes. Despite extensive investigation, no single test meets the criteria that would make it an ideal marker for early diagnosis of sepsis in the new born. The unnecessary exposure to antibiotics, with emergence of bacterial resistance will lead to potential poor outcomes in this vulnerable population of neonates. Neopterin is one of biochemical markers of immune activity, increased concentration of neopterin in serum is observed in conditions with involvement of cell mediated immune response.