CRP and Sepsis: Blood samples were collected within 36 h after birth; exclusion criteria were the following: death within 7 days of life, early-onset sepsis confirmed by a positive blood culture, suspected sepsis with raised C-reactive protein defined as values >10 mg/L, presence of bleeding (intracranial, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and pulmonary hemorrhage), platelet count < 100 × 109 /L.