In neonatal sepsis, a decreased platelet count is usually:

• A. Demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity
• B. Demonstrates low sensitivity but high specificity
• C. Is usually a late sign of sepsis
• D. Is a definitive test

Answer: (C)

A drop in platelets in a newborn with suspected sepsis usually appears as the illness advances, often reflecting progression to a consumptive coagulopathy such as DIC. Early sepsis signs in neonates are nonspecific and platelet counts can remain normal in the initial phase, so thrombocytopenia is not a reliable early detector. It’s not a definitive test because many conditions can cause low platelets in neonates, and it doesn’t reliably distinguish sepsis from other causes. For these reasons, a decreased platelet count is best understood as a late sign of sepsis, indicating disease progression and potential coagulopathy rather than a primary diagnostic marker.