Polymerase chain reaction in rapid diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

CLINICAL diagnosis of sepsis in new born infants is not easy because symptoms and signs are non-specific. There is no laboratory test with 100% specificity and sensitivity, search has continued for a reliable test. Blood culture has been the gold standard for confirmation of diagnosis but the results of the test are available only after 48-72 hours. The neonates with “risk factors” for neonatal sepsis are thus treated with broadspectrum antibiotics and require prolonged hospitalization. The alterations of laboratory tests are corroborative parameters to diagnose neonatal sepsis. The sensitivity of each laboratory test is far from 100%(1-5). The measurements of IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, IL-8, are still confined to the research laboratories(6,7). The advent of polymerase chain reaction has made it possible to have a 100% specific and sensitive method for diagnosis of bacterial sepsis in a short time(8,9). DNA sequence present in all bacteria such as portions of the DNA encoding the 16-Sribosomal-RNA has been used to define an organism as a bacterium (9). Those sequences are amplified with PCR, using an automated method allowing a rapid diagnosis. By using Multiplex-PCR simultaneous amplification of more than one genetic locus using more than one primer pair can be used to differentiate various etiological agents responsible for Polymerase Chain Reaction in Rapid Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis