[Value of C-reactive protein in neonatal bacterial infections].

C reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in the serum of 2 groups of neonates before and after the 12th hour of life. One group consisted of controls, the other of children with neonatal sepsis. The means (+/- standard error) for CRP serum level were 6 +/- 0.7 mg/l and 7.7 +/- 0.8 mg/l respectively before and after 12 hours of life in controls (n = 100); they were 19.7 +/- 3.4 mg/l and 67.5 +/- 6.6 mg/l in the group of infected neonates (n = 54). For both times of sampling, levels were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in infected neonates. The low percentage of false-positives and false-negatives suggests that this dosage is almost specific for neonatal sepsis.