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[Role of fibrinogen among the inflammatory proteins in neonatal infections]
Insights
Elevated fibrinogen levels in newborns can diagnose and predict neonatal infections. Persistent high fibrinogen indicates ongoing infection, guiding antibiotic treatment adjustments even without lab results.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Neonatal infections pose significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges.
- Fibrinogen, a key coagulation protein, is implicated in inflammatory responses.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective neonatal infection management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of fibrinogen levels in neonatal infections.
- To establish thresholds for fibrinogen levels indicative of bacterial materno-foetal infection.
- To assess the utility of fibrinogen monitoring for guiding antibiotic therapy adjustments.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study involving neonates with suspected infections.
- Measurement of serum fibrinogen levels within the first few days of life.
- Correlation of fibrinogen levels with clinical signs, bacteriological data, and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Increased fibrinogen levels (above 3.50 g/L) are associated with bacterial materno-foetal infections.
- Fibrinogen levels typically normalize within 3 days of appropriate antibiotic therapy.
- Persistently high fibrinogen levels indicate unresolved infection and necessitate treatment modification.
Conclusions:
- Fibrinogen is a valuable biomarker for diagnosing and prognosing neonatal infections.
- Monitoring fibrinogen levels aids in guiding timely and effective antibiotic treatment strategies.
- Elevated fibrinogen serves as an important indicator for adjusting antibiotic prescriptions, even in the absence of definitive bacteriological results.
Abstract:
The increase of the fibrinogen level appears to be an important feature in the neonatal infection as well for diagnosis as for prognosis. Levels above 3,50 g per liter during the first days after birth is in favor of bacterial materno-foetal infection and will return to normal in the next 3 days after antibiotics therapy. Conversely high fibrinogen levels persist as long as the infection remains active and must be an indication to modify antibiotics prescription even when bacteriological results are not known.