Abstract:Objective To explore the relationship between blood routine parameters, D-dimer (D-D), and procalcitonin (PCT) levels in neonates infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum and the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This study aims to provide references for the early identification, diagnosis, and treatment of NEC.Methods Eighty-six neonates infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum, admitted to Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University from January 2021 to December 2023, were included in this study. The neonates were divided into two groups: the NEC group (29 cases) and the non-NEC group (57 cases). Blood routine parameters [mean platelet volume (MPV), white blood cell count (WBC), and neutrophil count (NEUT)], D-D, and PCT levels were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for NEC in these neonates. A nomogram was constructed to predict NEC risk, and its predictive efficacy was analyzed using a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve.Results No significant differences were observed between the NEC and non-NEC groups regarding gender composition, mode of delivery, incidence of premature rupture of membranes, congenital heart disease, maternal age, incidence of gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and steroid use during pregnancy (P > 0.05). However, the NEC group had a significantly lower gestational age (P < 0.05), lower birth weight (P < 0.05), and a higher incidence of late-onset oligohydramnios compared to the non-NEC group (P < 0.05). The NEC group also exhibited significantly higher levels of D-D, PCT, MPV, and WBC (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified gestational age [O^R = 0.547 (95% CI: 0.309, 0.970)] and birth weight [O^R = 0.140 (95% CI: 0.029, 0.689)] as protective factors against NEC (P < 0.05). In contrast, late-onset oligohydramnios [O^R = 132.685 (95% CI: 2.025, 8 694.860)], elevated D-D levels [O^R = 1.085 (95% CI: 1.024, 1.149)], elevated PCT levels [O^R = 732.105 (95% CI: 11.495, 46 627.057)], increased MPV [O^R = 1.699 (95% CI: 1.118, 2.581)], and elevated WBC [O^R = 1.683 (95% CI: 1.084, 2.614)] were identified as risk factors for NEC (P < 0.05). The nomogram model indicated that neonates with smaller gestational age, lower birth weight, late-onset oligohydramnios, elevated D-D, PCT, MPV, and WBC levels were at higher risk of developing NEC. The ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the combined detection of D-D, PCT, MPV, and WBC levels had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.982 (95% CI: 0.960, 1.000), with a sensitivity of 93.10% (95% CI: 0.772, 0.992) and a specificity of 98.20% (95% CI: 0.906, 1.000), indicating high diagnostic efficacy.Conclusion Abnormal changes in blood routine parameters, D-D, and PCT levels in Ureaplasma urealyticum-infected neonates are associated with the development of NEC. These findings provide a reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of NEC.