The Early Diagnosis of Gram Negative Septicemia in the Pediatric Surgical Patient

Ninety-three postoperative patients 1 day to 13 years of age had blood cultures, limulus lysate assay, determination of fibrin degradation products, white blood cell and platelet counts. Seven groups were studied. The limulus lysate assay was often positive (64%) in the presence of gram negative septicemia but there were false positives and negatives. The tests for fibrin degradation products were inconsistent. The white blood cell count was low in babies with gram negative septicemia. One hundred per cent of the infants with gram negative septicemia had a platelet count below 150,000; 71% below 100,000 (average 67,000 septic babies, 257,000 non-septic babies). The drop in platelet count with gram negative septicemia was abrupt---as much as 222,000 in 24 hours. Platelets increased when therapy was effective. Two children with gram negative septicemia had platelet counts of 50,000 and 20,000. The platelet count for patients with gram positive septicemia was 299,000, and above 150,000 in all children with ruptured and non-ruptured appendicitis and major surgery without gram negative septicemia. It was concluded that serial measurements of platelet count in the postoperative infant and child was a rapid and reliable method for early detection of gram negative septicemia and changes in platelet count in response to treatment was an indicator of the effectiveness of therapy.