Table 2 Comparison of clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with proven sepsis (sepsis with positive blood culture and/or detection of bacterial DNA in blood) and patients with non-proven sepsis (no bacterial agent found)

Maternal fever > 38°C

1/11

10/20

0.02

Maternal antibiotics

2/11

8/20

0.15

Premature rupture of membranes

3/11

8/20

0.25

Normal vaginal delivery

5/11

5/20

0.16

Infant parameters

Gestational age (GA) < 37 weeks

0/11

2/20

0.40

Irritability

6/11

6/20

0.13

Fever > 38°C

2/11

5/20

0.32

Heart rate >160 beats per minute

2/11

3/20

0.37

Respiratory rate > 60 per minute

3/11

8/20

0.21

Apgar at 5 min < 8

1/11

3/20

0.40

Feeding difficulties

2/11

4/20

0.32

Capillary refill time > 3 seconds

1/11

7/20

0.11

Oxygen saturation (SaO2) < 88%

3/11

3/20

0.26

BE < -5

0/11

0/20

1.0

Leukocyte count < 5

0/11

1/20

0.47

Platelets < 100

2/11

0/20

0.12

Blood glucose < 2,5 mmol/l

0/11

3/20

0.25

CRP mg/l

49.3 ± 41.3

42.7 ± 29.1

0.60

Highest CRP mg/l

71.7 ± 41.6

70.3.6 ± 35.5

0.92