JCOGP
Journal of Controversies in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics

As of January 2023, our "Journal of Controversies Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics" has been published under the Medihealth Academy to publish all articles, reviews and case reports on Pediatrics, especially in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In order to facilitate the citation of the articles, to take our place in internationally respected indexes and to reach a wider readership, we will pay attention to the fact that our article language is only English in terms of acceptance.

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Original Article
Clinical and laboratory characteristics according to the onset of neonatal sepsis: a retrospective cohort study
Abstract
Aims: Neonatal sepsis remains a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality despite advances in neonatal intensive care. Although early-onset sepsis (EOS) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) differ in their pathophysiology and clinical presentation, comparative data including neonates who experience both EOS and LOS remain limited. This study aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics of neonates with EOS, LOS, and combined EOS+LOS.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 289 neonates with sepsis admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit between January 2020 and January 2022. Patients were classified into three groups: EOS (n = 207), LOS (n = 32), and EOS+LOS (n = 50). Demographic characteristics, clinical findings, microbiological results, and laboratory parameters were compared among the groups.
Results: Neonates with EOS+LOS had significantly lower gestational age, birth weight, Apgar scores, platelet count, and plateletcrit, but longer hospitalization, higher prematurity rates, and higher mean platelet volume than the other groups (all p <0.05). Compared with the LOS and EOS+LOS groups, neonates with EOS had significantly higher white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell distribution width, absolute neutrophil count, nucleated red blood cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein levels (all p <0.05). Absolute lymphocyte count was significantly higher in the LOS group.
Conclusion: Clinical and laboratory characteristics differ according to the onset of neonatal sepsis. Routinely available hematological parameters may complement clinical assessment and support the early evaluation of neonatal sepsis. Larger prospective multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings.

Keywords : Early-onset sepsis, late-onset sepsis, newborn, biomarkers, hematological parameters

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Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ankara Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences (Date: 05.10.2022, Decision No: E-22-1099).

Informed Consent

This retrospective study used pre-existing anonymized patient data. No additional intervention was performed, and there was no direct patient contact. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee, and the requirement for written informed consent was waived by the ethics committee.

Author Contributions

Concept: FS, DK; Design: FS, DK; Control: DK, MTG; Data Collection and/or Processing: FS; Analysis and/or Interpretation: FS, DK, CG; Literature Review: FS, CG, MTG; Writing the Article: FS, DK; Critical Review: FS, DK, CG, MTG.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this study.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the conduct or publication of this research.


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Article available in :
Volume 4, Issue 4, 2026
Page : 96-101
https://doi.org/10.51271/JCOGP-0081
Article Information
Received : 28 Haz 2026
Accepted : 12 Eki 2026
Published : 28 Eki 2026
Corresponding Author :

Fikret Sincar: Department of Neonatology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Sincar F, Kahvecioğlu D, Taş Güngör M, Geyik C. Clinical and laboratory characteristics according to the onset of neonatal sepsis: a retrospective cohort study. J Controv Obstetr Gynecol Ped. 2026;4(4):96-101. doi:10.51271/JCOGP-0081

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