Abstract

RAPID AND SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS OF BACTERIAL SEPSIS IN HIGH RISK PATIENTS

Asmaa R. Ali, Amany M. Abdel Wahab, Haneya A. A. Ali* and Maha I. Shehata

ABSTRACT

Sepsis is a major healthcare problem worldwide, athe accurate and timely detection of sepsis remains a challenge specially in high risk patients as blood culture and sensitivity testing results are slow and delay the beginning of treatment. Discrimination between sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is still difficult. This study was aiming for rapid diagnosis of sepsis by both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 16 S ribosomal DNA gene and to investigate the specific expression of DcR 3 in patients with sepsis by measuring its serum level within the first 48 hours of hospitalization and compare the results of both methods with the traditional blood culture results. This study was performed on 80 subjects (52 subjects suggestive to be bacterial sepsis patients and 28 subjects apparently healthy blood donors as a control). Peripheral venous blood was collected to be utilized for polymerase chain reaction and serum used for measurement of DCR3 by (EIA). Twenty five samples were PCR positive(48%) and 27 samples were PCR negative PCR with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value 100,90, 88 and 100 respectively. The average DCR3 level was 10.35 fold than the control group in sepsis and We recommended that the amplification of 16s ribosomal DNA by PCR providing highly sensitive and time saving diagnostic technique and measurement of DCR3 by EIA provide a noninvasive, specific biomarker for prediction of bacterial sepsis progression and discrimination between bacterial sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Keywords: Sepsis, DcR3, polymerase chain reaction, blood culture.