[babies_r_us]

We did 2 sets of cultures and both were negative. I think the other 3 physicians that work at our hospital would have treated the baby. But since it dropped drastically without any intervention, maybe we are overtreating.....just hate to take the chance on a little baby. They can go downhill so quickly. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

[prmenrs]

We started doing this about 4-5 years ago because of a research protocol, now it's done fairly routinely.

[IttyBittyBabyRN]

We do CRPs on anyone with any risk of infection upon admission and it's our first check whenever a baby starts having increased desats, etc. Can't say I've ever seen one that high!! Normal to us is <1.8. Usually have to have 3 normals to d/c abx.

[nurseiam]

We do CRP's along with CBC and BC. We do LP's to follow-up on Staph+ cultures.

[nell]

We do CBC at birth and CBC, CRP at 12and 24 hrs on any kid that fits our protocols (PROM >18 hrs, GBS+, Maternal temp, etc). CRP > 2.5 gets teated, CRP > 4 buys LP too. Normal CRP for us us <1. Highest I've seen is 18.

I was told circs don't cause more than a level of 1, don't know about vacuum, we've had lots of vacuum kids without positive CRPs.

I'd be worried about that kid too....

[BBnurse34]

Originally posted by cindyln
We do cbc and blood cultures.If the baby is looking the least bit symptomatic we start antibiotics until the blood cultures come back

Us too.

[ShandyLynnRN]

okay, as a nurse in L&D, postpartum, AND nursery, I guess I should probably need to know: WHat is a CRP? I work at a small hospital, level 1...don't believe I've ever heard of it.

[prmenrs]

C-reactive protein. Can't recall what it IS, but I'll look it up.

[prmenrs]

c-reactive protein is an abnormal protein produced in the liver in response to an acute inflamation. Nl is <.8mg/dl. It is more sensitive than the ESR test. It is used to look for infection, also trauma, transplantation, and connective tissue disease like arthritis.

[KRVRN]

My understanding is since a CRP can also be elevated d/t inflammation, then it is only a possible indicator of infection. If the CRP stays under 1 than we feel certain the kid isn't septic (UNLESS the baby acts sick otherwise). A level of 129 or 48 would raise eyebrows but if the baby isn't acting sick otherwise and the CBC is normal I have a feeling we would question it too.

We don't do routine LP's. Kids with positive blood cx always get them, same with any kid that starts seizing. Readmits from home with FUO usually get them too.

Many of us have a problem getting readmits from home for anything besides hyperbili. Just hope we never have an undiagnosed chicken pox ravage all our preemies.