Role of 16S rRNA gene and Activin-A in Detection of Neonatal Sepsis

Reem Gomaa, Resident of Clinical Pathology, Dekernis General Hospital, Egypt.Follow
Walaa Othman Elshabrawy, Professor of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Nada Mohsen, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Mohamed Mofreh, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Subject Area

Clinical Pathology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective: A bloodstream infection in a newborn less than 28 days is referred to as neonatal sepsis (NS). A novel quick and sensitive markers are required for the early detection of bacterial infections in neonates with sepsis, even if blood culture is a great way to diagnose sepsis because the results are delayed. This study was done to estimate the value of activin-A and molecular method (16S rRNA gene) by PCR as new methods for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

Methods: Fifity neonates came to the Mansoura University Children Hospital (MUCH) divided into two Groups: Group І (Sepsis group) Group ІІ (non-sepsis group) blood samples were obtained from all members centrifuged and then the serum was estimated for activin- A level by ELISA kit. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples for detection of 16S r RNA gene by PCR.

Result: Serum Activin A could be used to distinguish cases with sepsis at a cutoff level of > 111.8, with 100% sensitivity (Sn), 78.9% specificity (Sp), 88.6% PPV and 100% negative predicted value (NPV) (AUC = 0.89 & p-value < 0.001). The diagnostic performance of 16s rRNA in diagnosis of sepsis in all studied cases: 16s rRNA results had the sensitivity (Sn) of 100%, specificity (Sp) of 73.6%, positive predicted value (PPV) of 86.1%, NPV of 100% and accuracy of 90% in diagnosis of sepsis in all studied cases when compared with blood culture results.

Conclusion: Neonatal sepsis can be diagnosed by the new method (16S rRNA gene) using pcr that has quicker turn around time and higher sensitivity than blood culture ,and activin-A could be utilized as anew ,early and predictive biomarker for bacterial sepsis.

Recommended Citation

Gomaa, Reem; Elshabrawy, Walaa Othman; Mohsen, Nada; and Mofreh, Mohamed (2026) "Role of 16S rRNA gene and Activin-A in Detection of Neonatal Sepsis," Mansoura Medical Journal: Vol. 55 : Iss. 3 , Article 9.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.58775/2735-3990.1543