The investigators aimed to evaluate the effect of G-CSF administration in septic neonates on neutrophil production and CD11b expression.

Neonates are susceptible to septicemia secondary to quantitative and qualitative neutrophilic defects. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulates myeloid progenitor cell proliferation and induces selective neutrophil functions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• newborn infants with postnatal age < 28 day,
• minimum gestational age of 28 weeks and requiring intensive care with clinical signs consistent with the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis,
• with or without neutropenia

Exclusion Criteria:

• neonates with congenital malformation,
• major chromosomal abnormalities,
• prior use of cytokines or intravenous immunoglobulin, or decreased hemoglobin and/or hematocrit at or below the levels necessitate transfusion