Association of red cell distribution width (RDW) with positive blood culture of neonatal sepsis in Khartoum state, Sudan

The red cell distribution width (RDW) was higher among neonates with early onset neonatal sepsis. The study aimed to determine the red cell distribution width (RDW) with positive blood culture of early onset neonatal sepsis. This was a descriptive laboratory-based study, conducted during the period from January to September 2023, done on a total of 244 blood sample containers, tested for Complete Blood Count (CBC) tests and blood culture for who were diagnosed as early onset neonatal sepsis.

In this study (244) neonates were diagnosed as blood culture proven neonatal sepsis, The study showed that the cultured organism was isolated as following: 95 were Staphylococcus aureus, 70 were Candida Spp, 28 were Pseudomonas ssp, then 27 were Klebsiella ssp, 16 were Escherichia coli, after that 6 were Enterococcus feacalis and finally 2 were Listeria monocytogenes, and the RDW in this study was significantly higher in neonatal sepsis with average range (20 ± 2.5%).

The study concluded that RDW at levels more than or equal to 17% was the most sensitive hematological marker to predict mortality of neonatal sepsis.