TO STUDY THE USE OF NEUTROPHIL-TO-LYMPHOCYTE RATIO AS AN EARLY MARKER OF SEPSIS IN NEONATES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objectives: To assess the applicability of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a diagnostic marker in neonatal sepsis. Methods: Prospective study done for duration of 2 years, that is, from Jan 2023 to Jan 2025, in 100 neonates admitted with sepsis in the neonatal intensive care unit. Results: Term (e37 weeks) 50%, Very pre-term (e28–32 weeks) 30%, and extremely pre-term (<28 weeks) 20%. Mean C-reactive protein (CRP) was 14.0 mg/L in neonates, strongly indicated infection and systemic inflammation. Mean NLR (3.1). Conclusion: NLR is a simple, cost-effective, and accessible inflammatory marker that may support the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. While its standalone predictive power is moderate, combining NLR with CRP, and clinical assessment improves diagnostic confidence. Larger studies are recommended to validate optimal cutoff values and explore its prognostic utility.