Markers for Diagnosing Infections and Sepsis
Author Information
Author(s): Gaïni Shahin, Koldkjær Ole Græsbøll, Pedersen Court, Pedersen Svend Stenvang
Primary Institution: Odense University Hospital
Hypothesis
Can procalcitonin, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, IL-6, and C-reactive protein effectively identify patients with infection and sepsis?
Conclusion
C-reactive protein, IL-6, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein are better diagnostic markers for infection and sepsis than procalcitonin.
Supporting Evidence
- Infected patients had significantly elevated levels of procalcitonin, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, C-reactive protein, and IL-6 compared to noninfected patients.
- C-reactive protein and IL-6 performed best in distinguishing between noninfected and infected patients.
- IL-6, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and C-reactive protein were superior to procalcitonin in diagnosing sepsis.
Takeaway
Doctors need good tests to tell if someone has an infection or sepsis. This study found that some tests work better than others.
Methodology
Plasma and serum samples were collected from patients with suspected infections and sepsis, and various biomarkers were measured using specific assays.
Potential Biases
The study design included blinding to minimize workup bias, but there is a risk of imperfect gold standard bias.
Limitations
The study focused on a population with relatively mild disease, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The study included 194 adult patients, with a mix of genders and a range of comorbidities.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.76–0.89
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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