Biochemical markers of neonatal sepsis: value of procalcitonin in the emergency setting.

Background: We evaluated procalcitonin (PCT) assay in the emergency diagnosis of neonatal bacterial infection, especially in preterm infants, relative to C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen.

Methods: One hundred and twenty neonates (32 preterm), of whom 21 were infected, were tested.

Results: Concentrations of PCT, CRP and fibrinogen in uninfected infants were not affected by gestational age at birth.