Abstract
Objectives: To find the effects of bacterial sepsis
on thrombocytes, in correlation with causative
bacteria and mortality rate.
Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is commonly
caused by Gram-negative rather than Grampositive bacteria. Therefore, treatment of
thrombocytopenia must be of vital importance to
alleviate complications of bacterial sepsis in
neonates. (Rawal Med J 202;45:602-606).
Results: Thrombocytopenia was more severe in
neonates with Gram-negative (Gm−ve)
3
septicemia, (PLt=72.1x10 /cmm), in comparison
with those with Gram-positive (Gm +ve)
3
septicemia, (PLt=83.1x10 /cmm) (p<0.05). Most
cases were with Pseudomonas infection (46%)
3 with PLt count: 72.1 x 10 /cmm and 6% mortality
rate, followed by Salmonella (18%) and Klebsiella
(14%) infection with Platelet count and mortality
3 3
rate of (71.5 x 10 /cmm, 6%) and (73.4 x 10 /cmm
and 2%) respectively. In contrast, cases with
3 Staphylococcus epidermidis (72.1x10 /cmm, 4%)
3
and E. coli (71.2x10 /cmm, 2%) infections had
lower frequency (6% and 4%) and mortality rate
(4% and 2%), respectively, irrespective of the fact
that they also had low PLt count.
Methodology: This study was performed on 50
Sudanese neonates presenting with septicemia,
with an additional 50 neonates matched for age
and weight as control group. The standard
microbiological techniques, in addition to
antimicrobial sensitivity testing, were used for the
identification of microorganisms. Platelet (PLt)
count was performed using a fully automated
hematology analyzer
