Abstract
Objectives: To find the effects of bacterial sepsis on thrombocytes, in correlation with causative bacteria and mortality rate.
Methodology: This study was performed on 50 Sudanese neonates presenting with septicemia, with an additional 50 neonates matched for age and weight as control group. The standard microbiological techniques, in addition to antimicrobial sensitivity testing, were used for the identification of microorganisms. Platelet (PLt) count was performed using a fully automated hematology analyzer.
Results: Thrombocytopenia was more severe in neonates with Gram-negative (Gm−ve) septicemia, (PLt=72.1x103/cmm), in comparison with those with Gram-positive (Gm +ve) septicemia, (PLt=83.1x103/cmm) (p<0.05). Most cases were with Pseudomonas infection (46%) with PLt count: 72.1 x 103/cmm and 6% mortality rate, followed by Salmonella (18%) and Klebsiella (14%) infection with Platelet count and mortality rate of (71.5 x 103/cmm, 6%) and (73.4 x 103/cmm and 2%) respectively. In contrast, cases with Staphylococcus epidermidis (72.1x103/cmm, 4%) and E. coli (71.2x103/cmm, 2%) infections had lower frequency (6% and 4%) and mortality rate (4% and 2%), respectively, irrespective of the fact that they also had low PLt count.
Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is commonly caused by Gram-negative rather than Gram-positive bacteria. Therefore, treatment of thrombocytopenia must be of vital importance to alleviate complications of bacterial sepsis in neonates.

Key words: Thrombocytopenia, neonatal sepsis, Gm−ve septicemia, Gm +ve septicemia, Sudanese neonates.