Baseline C-reactive protein level as a predictor of mortality in bacteraemia patients: a population-based cohort study

All-cause and Infection-attributable Mortality Amongst Adults With Bloodstream Infection-a Population-based Study

Background

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are common, life-threatening infections. However, it remains unclear whether deaths following BSIs are primarily from uncontrolled infection or underlying comorbidities. We aimed to determine the overall mortality, infection-attributable mortality, and causes of death for four leading BSI pathogens.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted within the Secure Anonymized Information Linkage Databank, containing anonymized population-scale electronic health record data for Wales, UK. We included adults with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus BSI between 2010 and 2022 using linked data from Public Health Wales and the Office for National Statistics. Thirty-day all-cause and sepsis-specific mortality, as a proxy for infection-attributable mortality, were compared using Cox proportional hazards and competing risk regression, respectively.

Results

We identified 35 691 adults with BSI (59.6% E coli). Adjusted analyses revealed that all organisms had a higher 30-day mortality versus E coli with Pseudomonas aeruginosa the highest (hazard ratio, 1.96 [1.76-2.17], P < .001). Cancer was the leading cause of death following BSIs for all organisms, particularly deaths occurring between 30 and 90 days (35.9%). A total of 25.5% of deaths within 30 days involved sepsis. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was associated with the highest sepsis mortality versus E coli (hazard ratio, 2.56 [2.10-3.12], P < .001). Peak C-reactive protein was positively associated with increased sepsis mortality (P < .001).

Conclusions

This population-level study challenges the assumption that most deaths following BSIs are directly attributable to uncontrolled infection, particularly subacutely more than 30 days from BSI. Our findings underscore the need for reevaluating clinical trial design and developing better preventive strategies for BSIs.

Distinct patterns of vital sign and inflammatory marker responses in adults with suspected bloodstream infection

OBJECTIVES

To identify patterns in inflammatory marker and vital sign responses in adult with suspected bloodstream infection (BSI) and define expected trends in normal recovery.

METHODS

We included patients ≥16 y from Oxford University Hospitals with a blood culture taken between 1-January-2016 and 28-June-2021. We used linear and latent class mixed models to estimate trajectories in C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood count, heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature and identify CRP response subgroups. Centile charts for expected CRP responses were constructed via the lambda-mu-sigma method.

RESULTS

In 88,348 suspected BSI episodes; 6908 (7.8%) were culture-positive with a probable pathogen, 4309 (4.9%) contained potential contaminants, and 77,131(87.3%) were culture-negative. CRP levels generally peaked 1-2 days after blood culture collection, with varying responses for different pathogens and infection sources (p < 0.0001). We identified five CRP trajectory subgroups: peak on day 1 (36,091; 46.3%) or 2 (4529; 5.8%), slow recovery (10,666; 13.7%), peak on day 6 (743; 1.0%), and low response (25,928; 33.3%). Centile reference charts tracking normal responses were constructed from those peaking on day 1/2.

CONCLUSIONS

CRP and other infection response markers rise and recover differently depending on clinical syndrome and pathogen involved. However, centile reference charts, that account for these differences, can be used to track if patients are recovering line as expected and to help personalise infection.

Severe infections in peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis patients: An inception cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Infections are the most common non-cardiovascular cause of death among dialysis patients. Earlier studies have shown similar or higher risk of infectious complications in peritoneal dialysis (PD) compared to hemodialysis (HD) patients, but comparisons to home HD patients have been rare. We investigated the risk of severe infections after start of continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) and automated PD (APD) as compared to home HD.

METHODS

All adult patients (n = 536), who were on home dialysis at day 90 from starting kidney replacement therapy (KRT) between 2004 and 2017 in Helsinki healthcare district, were included. We defined severe infection as an infection with C-reactive protein of 100 mg/l or higher. Cumulative incidence of first severe infection was assessed considering death as a competing risk. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox regression with propensity score adjustment.

RESULTS

The risk of getting a severe infection during the first year of dialysis was 35% for CAPD, 25% for APD and 11% for home HD patients. During five years of follow-up, the hazard ratio of severe infection was 2.8 [95% CI 1.6-4.8] for CAPD and 2.2 [95% CI 1.4-3.5] for APD in comparison to home HD. Incidence rate of severe infections per 1000 patient-years was 537 for CAPD, 371 for APD, and 197 for home HD patients. When excluding peritonitis, the incidence rate was not higher among PD than home HD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

CAPD and APD patients had higher risk of severe infections than home HD patients. This was explained by PD-associated peritonitis.

Intraperitoneal contamination index (Hajibandeh index) predicts nature of peritoneal contamination and risk of postoperative mortality in patients with acute abdominal pathology: a prospective multicentre cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether intraperitoneal contamination index (ICI) (Hajibandeh index) derived from combined levels of CRP, lactate, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and albumin can predict the nature of intraperitoneal contamination in patients with acute abdominal pathology and to assess whether ICI can predict postoperative mortality in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy.

METHODS

In order to prospectively validate the ICI, developed and validated retrospectively in our previous study, a multicentre prospective cohort study was conducted between January 2019 and June 2020 including all adult patients who presented with acute abdominal pathology requiring emergency laparotomy. ROC curve analysis was performed to determine discrimination and cut-off values of preoperative ICI that could predict the nature of intraperitoneal contamination and postoperative mortality.

RESULTS

Overall, 269 patients were included in the prospective validation cohort which were compared with 234 patients in the primary cohort and 234 patients in the retrospective validation cohort. The analyses identified ICI of 24.76 as cut-off value for purulent contamination (AUC: 0.78, P < 0.0001; sensitivity: 82.4%, specificity: 60.9%); ICI of 33.84 as cut-off value for feculent contamination (AUC: 0.78, P < 0.0001; sensitivity: 82%, specificity: 67.8%), and ICI of 33.47 as cut-off value for postoperative mortality (AUC: 0.70, P < 0.0001; sensitivity: 72.7%, specificity: 58.47%). The results of the prospective validation cohort were comparable with the results of the primary and retrospective validation cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Hajibandeh index predicts the presence of purulent and feculent intraperitoneal contamination in patients with acute abdominal pathology and postoperative mortality in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. Future studies should investigate the effect of ICI use on the accuracy of preoperative prognostic scoring tools and on patient selection for operative or non-operative management of underlying abdominal pathology.

Raised inflammatory markers as a predictor of one-year mortality: a cohort study in primary care in the UK using electronic health record data

OBJECTIVES

Identification of patients at increased mortality risk is important in the context of increasing multimorbidity and an ageing population, to help facilitate the planning and delivery of services. The aim of this study was to examine 1-year all-cause mortality in a cohort of primary care patients in whom inflammatory markers including C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and plasma viscosity (PV), had been tested.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study using general practitioner Electronic Health Records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, with linkage to Office for National Statistics (ONS) Death Registry.

SETTING

UK Primary Care.

PARTICIPANTS

159 325 patients with inflammatory marker tests done in 2014 and 39 928 age, sex and practice-matched controls without inflammatory marker testing. ONS Death registry data were available for 109 966 participants.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

One-year mortality in those with raised inflammatory markers compared with normal inflammatory markers and untested controls. Subanalyses stratified 1-year mortality by age group, gender and cause of death.

RESULTS

Patients with a raised inflammatory marker (n=47 797) had an overall 1-year all-cause mortality of 6.89%, compared with 1.41% in those with normal inflammatory markers (p<0.001) and 1.62% in untested controls. A raised CRP is associated with the highest mortality rate at 8.76% compared with 4.99% for ESR and 4.66% for PV. One-year mortality is higher in men with a raised inflammatory marker compared with women (9.78% vs 5.29%). The C-statistic of a simple mortality prediction model containing age, sex and CRP test result is 0.89.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammatory markers are a strong predictor of all-cause mortality in primary care, with a C-statistic comparable to several previously developed frailty indices. Future research should consider the added value of CRP testing, in combination with other risk factors, to improve prediction of mortality in primary care. Evidence- based interventions for frailty are needed alongside predictive tools.

C-reactive protein and albumin kinetics after antibiotic therapy in community-acquired bloodstream infection

OBJECTIVES

We assessed C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma albumin (PA) kinetics to evaluate community-acquired bloodstream infection (CA-BSI) patients' 1-year outcomes.

METHODS

Population-based study, with CRP and PA measurements on day 1 (D1) and D4. Relative CRP variations in relation to D1 CRP value were evaluated (CRP-ratio). Patients were classified as fast response, slow response, non-response, and biphasic response.

RESULTS

A total of 935 patients were included. At D4, the CRP-ratio was lower in survivors on D365 in comparison with D4-D30 non-survivors and D30-D365 non-survivors (p<0.001). In comparison with fast response patients, non-response and biphasic response patients had 2.74 and 5.29 increased risk, respectively, of death in D4-D30 and 2.77 and 3.16 increased risk, respectively, of death in D31-D365. PA levels remained roughly unchanged from D1-D4, but lower D1 PA predicted higher short and long-term mortality (p<0.001). The discriminative performance of the CRP-ratio and D1 PA to identify patients with poor short and long-term mortality after adjustments was acceptable (AUROC=0.79).

CONCLUSIONS

Serial CRP measurements at D1 and D4 after CA-BSI is clinically useful to identify patients with poor outcome. Individual patterns of CRP-ratio response with PA at D1 further refine our ability of predicting short or long-term mortality.

A validated novel preoperative index to predict the extent of intraperitoneal contamination in patients with acute abdominal pathology: A cohort study

AIMS

To investigate whether an intraperitoneal contamination index (ICI) derived from combined preoperative levels of C-reactive protein, lactate, neutrophils, lymphocytes and albumin could predict the extent of intraperitoneal contamination in patients with acute abdominal pathology.

METHODS

Patients aged over 18 who underwent emergency laparotomy for acute abdominal pathology between January 2014 and October 2018 were randomly divided into primary and validation cohorts. The proposed intraperitoneal contamination index was calculated for each patient in each cohort. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine discrimination of the index and cut-off values of preoperative intraperitoneal contamination index that could predict the extent of intraperitoneal contamination.

RESULTS

Overall, 468 patients were included in this study; 234 in the primary cohort and 234 in the validation cohort. The analyses identified intraperitoneal contamination index of 24.77 and 24.32 as cut-off values for purulent contamination in the primary cohort (area under the curve (AUC): 0.73, P < 0.0001; sensitivity: 84%, specificity: 60%) and validation cohort (AUC: 0.83, P < 0.0001; sensitivity: 91%, specificity: 69%), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis also identified intraperitoneal contamination index of 33.70 and 33.41 as cut-off values for feculent contamination in the primary cohort (AUC: 0.78, P < 0.0001; sensitivity: 87%, specificity: 64%) and validation cohort (AUC: 0.79, P < 0.0001; sensitivity: 86%, specificity: 73%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

As a predictive measure which is derived purely from biomarkers, intraperitoneal contamination index may be accurate enough to predict the extent of intraperitoneal contamination in patients with acute abdominal pathology and to facilitate decision-making together with clinical and radiological findings.

Predictors of death in infants with probable serious bacterial infection

BackgroundBacterial infections account for a significant proportion of neonatal and infant mortality globally. We aimed to identify predictors of death in infants with probable serious bacterial infection (PSBI) defined as signs/symptoms of possible serious bacterial infection along with baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥12 mg/l.MethodsWe did a secondary analysis using the data collected from 700 infants with PSBI who participated in a randomized controlled trial in India in which zinc or placebo was given in addition to the standard antibiotics. Logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between relevant variables and death within 21 days.ResultsThose infants who were fed cow's milk or formula before the illness episode had 3.7-fold (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-9.3) and 5.3-fold (95% CI 2.0-13.6) higher odds of death, respectively. Lethargy (odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.4) and CRP (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.3) were also independent predictors of death. In the model including only clinical features, female gender (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.0-5.0), abdominal distention (3.7, 95% CI 1.1-12.3), and bulging fontanelle (5.8, 95% CI 1.1-30.5) were also independent predictors for death.ConclusionFormula or cow milk feeding prior to the illness, lethargy at the time of presentation, and high serum CRP levels predicted death in infants with PSBI.

Morbidity from in-hospital complications is greater than treatment failure in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia

BACKGROUND

Various studies have identified numerous factors associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB). A new study was created to provide deeper insight into in-hospital complications and risk factors for treatment failure.

METHODS

Adult patients hospitalised with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) were recruited prospectively into a multi-centre cohort. The primary outcome was treatment failure at 30 days (composite of all-cause mortality, persistent bacteraemia, or recurrent bacteraemia), and secondary measures included in-hospital complications and mortality at 6- and 12-months. Data were available for 222 patients recruited from February 2011 to December 2012.

RESULTS

Treatment failure at 30-days was recorded in 14.4% of patients (30-day mortality 9.5%). Multivariable analysis predictors of treatment failure included age > 70 years, Pitt bacteraemia score ≥ 2, CRP at onset of SAB > 250 mg/L, and persistent fevers after SAB onset; serum albumin at onset of SAB, receipt of appropriate empiric treatment, recent healthcare attendance, and performing echocardiography were protective. 6-month and 12-month mortality were 19.1% and 24.2% respectively. 45% experienced at least one in-hospital complication, including nephrotoxicity in 19.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates significant improvements in 30-day outcomes in SAB in Australia. However, we have identified important areas to improve outcomes from SAB, particularly reducing renal dysfunction and in-hospital treatment-related complications.

Predictive implications of albumin and C-reactive protein for progression to pneumonia and poor prognosis in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Background

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) bacteremia causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts. However, incidence and risk factors for mortality in S. maltophilia bacteremia following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remain controversial. The primary aim of this study is to clarify factors associated with poor prognosis of allo-HSCT recipients with S. maltophilia bacteremia.

Methods

From January 2005 to December 2014, patients with hematological diseases and S. maltophilia bacteremia at a single transplantation center in Japan were examined for incidence and 90-day mortality. Prognostic factors associated with 90-day mortality among allo-HSCT recipients were analyzed by log-rank test, and significant variables in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model.

Results

A total of 65 patients, including 47 patients undergoing allo-HSCT, developed S. maltophilia bacteremia. The incidence of S. maltophilia bacteremia was significantly higher in allo-HSCT recipients compared to patients not receiving allo-HSCT (6.53 vs. 0.36 per 100 admissions, respectively; p < 0.01). The overall 90-day mortality in allo-HSCT recipients was 43%. Independent risk factors for 90-day mortality were low serum albumin (<3.0 g/dl) (HR = 10.86; 95% CI, 3.27–36.12) and high serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (≥10.0 mg/dl) (HR = 3.28; 95% CI, 1.00–10.72). Among 9 patients with both high CRP and low albumin, 5 had pneumonia at the onset of bacteremia and the remaining 4 patients developed pneumonia in a median of 3 days (range, 1 to 8 days) even under effective treatment. All 9 patients eventually died in a median of 2 days (range, 2 to 32 days). The probabilities of developing pneumonia in patients with or without high CRP and low albumin levels were 100% (9/9) and 10.5% (4/38), respectively (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Allo-HSCT recipients had higher rates of S. maltophilia bacteremia than did patients not receiving allo-HSCT. High serum CRP and low serum albumin at the onset of bacteremia are predictive of disease progression to pneumonia and poor prognosis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-017-2745-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Association between Hypoalbuminaemia and Mortality in Patients with Community-Acquired Bacteraemia Is Primarily Related to Acute Disorders

We sought to investigate whether hypoalbuminaemia was mainly caused by acute or chronic factors in patients with community-acquired bacteraemia. In this population-based study, we considered 1844 adult cases of community-acquired bacteraemia that occurred in Funen, Denmark between 2000 and 2008. We used a stepwise prognostic predisposition-insult-response-organ dysfunction (PIRO) logistic regression model by initially including age and comorbidity, then added bacterial species, and finally sepsis severity. The models were furthermore analysed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Outcomes comprised mortality incidence on days 0-30 and 31-365 after the bacteraemia episode. Each step was performed with and without baseline albumin level measured on the date of bacteraemia. In 422 patients, their latest albumin measurement taken 8-30 days before the date of bacteraemia was also used in the analysis together with the baseline albumin level. For each decrease of 1g/L in plasma albumin level, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of mortality in the period of 0-30 days after bacteraemia were 0.86 (0.84-0.88) in both predisposition (P) and predisposition-insult (PI) models and 0.87 (0.85-0.89) in the full PIRO-model. The AUC values were 0.78 and 0.66 for mortality in the period of 0-30 days in the model comprising only predisposition factors with and without albumin levels added as a factor, respectively. The AUC values in the full PIRO-model were 0.81 and 0.73 with and without consideration of albumin levels, respectively. A higher proportion of patients died within 30 days if there was a decrease in the albumin level between days 8 and 30 before bacteraemia and the actual bacteraemia date. A single plasma albumin measurement on the bacteraemia date was a better prognostic predictor of short-term mortality than the sepsis severity score.

Gender differences in the outcome of community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a historical population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Female gender has been suggested to be associated with poor outcome in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB), but existing data remain sparse and conflicting. We investigated clinical outcomes in female and male patients with community-acquired (CA-) SAB.

METHODS

Population-based medical registers were used to conduct a cohort study of all adult patients with CA-SAB in northern Denmark, 2000-2011. Thirty-day mortality after CA-SAB for female and male patients was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we computed hazard ratios (HRs) of death according to gender, overall and stratified by age groups, co-morbidity level, and selected major diseases while adjusting for potential confounders. Moreover, we estimated 30-day prevalence proportions for SAB-associated infective endocarditis and osteomyelitis by gender.

RESULTS

Among 2638 patients with CA-SAB, 1022 (39%) were female. Thirty-day mortality was 29% (n = 297) in female patients and 22% (n = 355) in male patients, yielding an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.30 (95% CI, 1.11-1.53). This association appeared robust across age groups, whereas no consistent pattern was observed according to co-morbidity level. Compared with male patients, the prognostic impact of gender was most pronounced among female patients with diabetes (aHR 1.52; 95% CI 1.04-2.21)), and among female patients with cancer (aHR 1.40; 95% CI 1.04-1.90). The 30-day prevalence of infective endocarditis or osteomyelitis did not differ according to gender.

CONCLUSION

Female patients with CA-SAB experienced increased 30-day mortality compared with male patients. Gender should be considered in the triage and risk stratification of CA-SAB patients.

Does Pathogen Identification Influence the Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Pyogenic Spinal Infections?

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical outcomes of patients suffering from pyogenic spinal infections (PSI), by comparing the outcomes of patients with an identified microbiological agent with those of patients without an identified pathogen.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

PSI is associated with significant risks for morbidity and mortality. Specific antibiotic treatment has been considered a key to successful medical treatment; however, clinicians frequently treat patients with PSI without an identified agent. A paucity of data is available comparing the clinical outcomes of patients with or without an identified pathogen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The records of 97 consecutive patients discharged from a University Hospital with the diagnosis of PSI during a 14-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' demographics, etiological agent, comorbidities, site of infection, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein at the time of presentation, neurological impairment, length of hospital stay, and mortality were registered to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with an identified pathogen with those of patients without an identified agent.

RESULTS

The causative organism was identified in 74 patients (76.3%). Patients with microbiological diagnosis were younger, and a larger percentage of them exhibited elevated C-reactive protein value; however, they were not different from those without an identified agent in terms of sex, site of infection, comorbidities, and the presence of a concomitant infection. Our study could not demonstrate different neurological outcomes, length of stay, or mortality rates among the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large series of patients with PSI, we did not demonstrate differences in clinical outcomes using empirical antibiotics in patients without an identified pathogen compared with patients with an identified microbiological agent receiving specific antibiotics. Future prospective multicenter studies should be conducted to obtain an answer to this important clinical question.

The C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio as an Independent Predictor of Mortality in Patients with Severe Sepsis or Septic Shock Treated with Early Goal-Directed Therapy

Background

Sepsis, including severe sepsis and septic shock, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) are considered as good diagnostic markers for sepsis. Thus, initial CRP and albumin levels were combined to ascertain their value as an independent predictor of 180-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 670 patients (>18 years old) who were admitted to the emergency department and who had received a standardized resuscitation algorithm (early goal-directed therapy) for severe sepsis and septic shock, from November 2007 to February 2013, at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The outcome measured was 180-day all-cause mortality. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify the independent risk factors for mortality. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to compare the predictive accuracy of the CRP/albumin ratio at admission.

Results

The 180-day mortality was 28.35% (190/670). Based on the multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, age, the CRP/albumin ratio at admission (adjusted HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03–1.10, p<0.001), lactate level at admission (adjusted HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05–1.14, p<0.001), and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at admission (adjusted HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07–1.18, p<0.001) were independent predictors of 180-day mortality. The area under the curve of CRP alone and the CRP/albumin ratio at admission for 180-day mortality were 0.5620 (P<0.001) and 0.6211 (P<0.001), respectively.

Conclusion

The CRP/albumin ratio was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Predictors of time to recovery in infants with probable serious bacterial infection

INTRODUCTION

Serious bacterial infections continue to be an important cause of death and illness among infants in developing countries. Time to recovery could be considered a surrogate marker of severity of the infection. We therefore aimed to identify clinical and laboratory predictors of time to recovery in infants with probable serious bacterial infection (PSBI).

METHODS

We used the dataset of 700 infants (7-120 days) enrolled in a randomised controlled trial in India in which 10mg of oral zinc or placebo was given to infants with PSBI. PSBI was defined as signs/symptoms of possible serious bacterial infection along with baseline C-reactive protein(CRP) level >12mg/L. Time to recovery was defined as time from enrolment to the end of a 2-day period with no symptoms/signs of PSBI and daily weight gain of at least 10g over 2 succesive days on exclusive oral feeding. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to measure the associations between relevant variables and time to recovery.

RESULTS

Infants who were formula fed prior to illness episode had 33% longer time to recovery (HR-0.67, 95%CI-0.52, 0.87) than those who were not. Being underweight (HR-0.84, 95%CI-0.70, 0.99), lethargic (HR-0.77, 95%CI-0.62, 0.96) and irritable (HR-0.81, 95%CI-0.66, 0.99) were independent predictors of time to recovery. Baseline CRP was significantly associated with time to recovery (P<0.001), higher CRP was associated with longer time to recovery and this association was nearly linear.

CONCLUSION

Simple clinical and laboratory parameters such as formula feeding prior to the illness, being underweight, lethargic, irritable and having elevated CRP levels could be used for early identification of infants with PSBI at risk for protracted illness and could guide prompt referral to higher centers in resource limited settings. This also provides prognostic information to clinicians and family as longer recovery time has economic and social implications on the family in our setting.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00347386.

Increased concentrations of the soluble mannose receptor in serum from patients with pneumococcal bacteraemia, and prediction of survival

BACKGROUND

The soluble mannose receptor (sMR) is a new serum marker of macrophage activation. The aim of the present study was to investigate sMR as a prognostic marker in patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and compare it to other inflammatory biomarkers.

METHODS

Samples from 128 patients with IPD were collected at the time of first positive blood culture and analysed using an in-house sMR assay. Clinical data were retrieved from patient files. The main outcome investigated was in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

The median sMR concentration in the entire group of patients was 0.77 mg/L. There was a significant difference in sMR concentration between patients below (n = 92, sMR = 0.82 mg/L) or above (n = 36, sMR = 0.73 mg/L) the age of 75 (p < 0.001). In the entire group there was a significant difference in sMR concentrations between survivors (n = 107, sMR = 0.72 mg/L) and non-survivors (n = 21, sMR = 1.38 mg/L), but for patients 75 years or older this difference was not statistically significant. For prediction of survival sMR seemed most promising (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.79) compared with sCD163 (AUC = 0.70) and CRP (AUC = 0.73). In patients 75 years or older the AUC was lower for all three markers (sMR = 0.56, sCD163 = 0.38, CRP = 0.66).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study designate sMR as a potential new biomarker in infectious disease. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of research into macrophage malfunction in elderly patients.

The Danish Collaborative Bacteraemia Network (DACOBAN) database

The Danish Collaborative Bacteraemia Network (DACOBAN) research database includes microbiological data obtained from positive blood cultures from a geographically and demographically well-defined population serviced by three clinical microbiology departments (1.7 million residents, 32% of the Danish population). The database also includes data on comorbidity from the Danish National Patient Registry, vital status from the Danish Civil Registration System, and clinical data on 31% of nonselected records in the database. Use of the unique civil registration number given to all Danish residents enables linkage to additional registries for specific research projects. The DACOBAN database is continuously updated, and it currently comprises 39,292 patients with 49,951 bacteremic episodes from 2000 through 2011. The database is part of an international network of population-based bacteremia registries from five developed countries on three continents. The main purpose of the DACOBAN database is to study surveillance, risk, and prognosis. Sex- and age-specific data on background populations enables the computation of incidence rates. In addition, the high number of patients facilitates studies of rare microorganisms. Thus far, studies on Staphylococcus aureus, enterococci, computer algorithms for the classification of bacteremic episodes, and prognosis and risk in relation to socioeconomic factors have been published.

Role of C-reactive protein in schizophrenia: an overview

Over the years, schizophrenia is speculated to be associated with immune or inflammatory reactions mediated by cytokines. It is proposed that chronic inflammation might damage the micro-vascular system of brain and hamper cerebral blood flow. Scientific evidence suggests that an increase of stress hormone like norepinephrine may activate the inflammatory arm of the immune system and trigger the expression of genes that cause chronic, low-grade inflammation. Thus, studies were conducted to decipher the potentiality of CRP as a marker for inflammation in schizophrenia. This article reviews the findings of CRP in schizophrenia, and the limitations of the previous studies have been discussed. The importance of simultaneous study of CRP modulating cytokines and CRP gene polymorphism in the study of serum or plasma level of CRP has been emphasized.

Does C-reactive protein independently predict mortality in adult community-acquired bacteremia patients with known sepsis severity?

We evaluated whether sepsis severity and C-reactive protein (CRP) level on admission prognostically corroborated or annulled each other in adult patients with incident community-acquired bacteremia (Funen, Denmark, 2000-2008). We used logistic regression and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to evaluate 30-day mortality in four models: (i) age, gender, comorbidity, bacteria, and ward. (ii) Model 1 and sepsis severity. (iii) Model 1 and CRP. (iv) Model 1, sepsis severity, and CRP. Altogether, 416 of 1999 patients died within 30 days. CRP independently predicted 30-day mortality [Model 4, odds ratio (95% CIs) for 100 mg/L: 1.16 (1.06-1.27)], but it did not contribute to the AUC (Model 2 vs Model 4: p = 0.31). In the 963 non-severe sepsis patients, CRP independently predicted 30-day mortality [Model 4: 1.42 (1.20-1.69)] and it increased the AUC (Model 2 vs Model 4: p = 0.06), thus CRP contributed as much as sepsis severity to prognosis.

C-reactive protein level as a predictor of mortality in liver disease patients with bacteremia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

C-reactive protein (CRP) is synthesized in the liver in response to inflammation, and CRP is a widely used marker of sepsis. In bacteremia the initial CRP level is an independent predictor of mortality. Since the CRP response in patients with chronic liver disease is lower than in patients without liver disease the objective was to assess whether CRP levels in chronic liver disease and bacteremia was associated with case fatality.

PATIENTS

The study enrolled 105 patients with chronic liver disease and bacteremia as well as 202 patients with bacteremia and no recorded liver disease from the same region and time period.

METHODS

Retrospective review of medical records with registration of demography, co-morbidity, bacteriological, biochemical and clinical findings, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Mortality was significantly higher in patients with chronic liver disease (mortality rate ratio 2.2; 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.9) and it was correlated to Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores. CRP levels were not different between the three Child-Turcotte-Pugh classes (p = 0.33), and no linear correlation with 30-day mortality was observed.

CONCLUSION

Mortality associated with bacteremia is increased in patients with chronic liver disease and it is correlated with Child-Turcotte-Pugh score. The prognostic information of initial CRP levels in patients with chronic liver disease is weak. The clinical management of patients with chronic liver disease and suspected infection should initiate antimicrobial therapy based on clinical, radiological and microbiological findings, whereas the measurement of CRP in bacteremia is less helpful as compared with patients without liver disease.

Existing data sources for clinical epidemiology: The clinical laboratory information system (LABKA) research database at Aarhus University, Denmark

This paper provides an introduction to the clinical laboratory information system (LABKA) research database in Northern and Central Denmark. The database contains millions of stored laboratory test results for patients living in the two Danish regions, encompassing 1.8 million residents, or one-third of the country’s population. More than 1700 different types of blood test analyses are available. Therefore, the LABKA research database represents an incredible source for studies involving blood test analyses. By record linkage of different Danish registries with the LABKA research database, it is possible to examine a large number of biomarkers as predictors of disease risk and prognosis and as markers of disease severity, and to evaluate medical treatments regarding effectiveness and possible side effects. Large epidemiological studies using routinely stored blood test results for individual patients can be performed because it is possible to link the laboratory data to high-quality individual clinical patient data in Denmark.