Background: The incidence of early neonatal sepsis in premature infants is 40% in our environment, mortality between 15-50% of cases. This rate increases exponentially with prematurity and is associated with neurological and pulmonary after-effects. To date there has been no definitive conclusions regarding the best diagnostic test in this topic. It is therefore vitally important to find the best method for early detection. Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of placental histopathology in the diagnosis of early neonatal sepsis of newborns under 36 weeks gestational age in the Santa Fe Fundacion . Methodology: Diagnostic test that describes the results of analysis of the placental pathology of preterm infants with suspected early sepsis, compared with the early diagnosis of proven sepsis. Results: We analyzed 114 patients with risk factors for early sepsis, of whom 74 were diagnosed with probable sepsis confirmed in five cases, finding like this a placental histopathology to 100% sensitivity CI 95% (90% -100%), specificity 78.9% (CI 95% CI 70.7-87.0), 79.8% validity rate (CI 95% 72% -87.6%), PPV 17.7 (CI 95% CI: 1.89%-33.8%) and NPV 100% (CI: 98.7%-100%). Conclusion: Histologic chorioamnionitis is an important biomarker in early diagnosis of sepsis in preterm infants tested, offering a choice of non-invasive diagnostic aid, with final results within 24 hours.
