Which biomarkers are commonly used to support sepsis evaluation in neonates?

• A. CRP and procalcitonin.
• B. Blood glucose.
• C. Serum ferritin.
• D. Creatinine.

Answer: (B)

Biomarkers used to support sepsis evaluation in neonates rely on the body's inflammatory response to infection. The most commonly used pair is CRP and procalcitonin. CRP is an acute-phase protein that rises in response to inflammation and can be tracked over time to help indicate an infectious process, especially when measured serially. Procalcitonin tends to rise more specifically with bacterial infections and often increases earlier than CRP, providing helpful diagnostic and monitoring information. Using both together improves sensitivity and specificity because they respond at different times and in different ways to infection.

Blood glucose is important to monitor in neonates for metabolic stability, but it is not a diagnostic biomarker for sepsis. Serum ferritin can be elevated in various inflammatory conditions but is not routinely used to support sepsis evaluation in newborns. Creatinine reflects kidney function rather than infection status, so it isn’t a primary sepsis biomarker. The practical takeaway is that CRP and procalcitonin are the biomarkers most commonly used to support neonatal sepsis assessment.