Question
The CRP index is elevated (68), but the blood culture result is negative. Does this mean the baby can be discharged? When can the CRP level return to normal? Does a high CRP level indicate that the inflammation is still severe? Is sepsis itself an inflammation?
Answer
Sepsis is a systemic severe infection caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream, reproducing, and producing toxins. Clinical symptoms include fever, severe poisoning, rash, petechiae, liver and spleen enlargement, and an increase in white blood cells. When sepsis is accompanied by multiple abscesses, it is called septicemia. (1) Antimicrobial Treatment: Antibiotics should be used as soon as possible. If there is an infectious focus, surgical incision and drainage or needle aspiration for pus drainage should be performed in addition to systemic antibiotic use. (2) Other Treatments: Provide high-protein, high-calorie, and high-vitamin diets to ensure nutrition. Gamma globulin or plasma, whole blood, or albumin can be administered intravenously. In addition to adequate use of effective antibiotics, patients with severe infection and poisoning symptoms can be given a short-term (3-5 days) course of adrenal cortical hormone treatment. CRP stands for C-reactive protein, a blood marker related to inflammation and infection. An elevated CRP level usually indicates that the body is in an inflammatory state, but it does not necessarily mean sepsis. Although a negative blood culture indicates that no bacteria have been detected at present, the CR