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The clinical diagnosis of early-onset sepsis (EOS) in newborns is difficult because of the nonspecific signs and the low diagnostic sensitivity of blood cultures. Laboratory measures of inflammatory response have been evaluated in an attempt to improve accuracy. C-reactive protein (CRP) is one acute-phase reactant that seems to be helpful, but it also lacks sensitivity. In a prospective study, investigators in Israel compared the accuracy of serum amyloid A (SAA) and CRP in the diagnosis of EOS.
Of 104 infants (younger than 72 hours; gestational age, ≥37 weeks) who were screened for suspected EOS, 23 were considered to be septic based on positive blood culture or clinical course, and 81 were not. A control group of 30 term nonseptic infants …