Correlation Between Neonatal Sepsis and Hyperbilirubinemia in Hospitalized Newborns
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61561/ssbgjms.v6i02.95Keywords:
Neonatal sepsis, hyperbilirubinemia, bilirubin, phototherapy, blood cultureAbstract
Background: Neonatal sepsis and hyperbilirubinemia are leading causes of morbidity in NICUs, especially in low-resource settings. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between laboratory-confirmed sepsis and elevated serum bilirubin in hospitalized neonates.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 90 neonates admitted to the NICU at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital between January 2023 and December 2024. Data on sepsis markers, bilirubin levels, phototherapy, and clinical outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and logistic regression.
Results: Among the 90 neonates, 73.33% had sepsis, 42.22% developed jaundice, and 67.78% required phototherapy. Septic neonates had significantly higher mean serum bilirubin levels (10.5 ± 2.7 mg/dL) compared to non-septic neonates (8.2 ± 2.1 mg/dL; p = 0.036). Bilirubin showed significant positive correlations with CRP (r = 0.38; p = 0.002) and blood culture positivity (r = 0.44; p = 0.001). Sepsis independently predicted hyperbilirubinemia (AOR = 2.81; p = 0.045). Among culture-positive cases, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter infections were associated with the highest bilirubin levels. Jaundiced neonates also exhibited significantly higher rates of RDS, hypoglycemia, and feeding intolerance.
Conclusion: Sepsis significantly contributes to hyperbilirubinemia in neonates. Early recognition, bilirubin monitoring, and infection-specific management may improve outcomes in this vulnerable population
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