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Diagnostic Utility of Interleukin-6 in Early-Onset Sepsis among Term Newborns: Impact of Maternal Risk Factors and CRP Evaluation

Authors :
Maria Schleier
Julia Lubig
Sven Kehl
Steven Hébert
Joachim Woelfle
Adriana van der Donk
Alisa Bär
Heiko Reutter
Tobias Hepp
Patrick Morhart
Source :
Children, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 53 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

(1) Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels act as an early infection marker preceding C-reactive protein (CRP) elevation. This study seeks to analyze IL-6 behavior in suspected early-onset sepsis (EOS) cases among term newborns, comparing it to that of CRP and evaluating IL-6’s diagnostic utility. We also aim to assess the impact of maternal risk factors on EOS in term newborns, quantifying their influence for informed decision making. (2) Methods: The retrospective data analysis included 533 term newborns who were admitted to our hospital because of suspected EOS. IL-6, CRP, and the impact of maternal risk factors were analyzed in the context of EOS using binomial test, Chi-squared test, logistic and linear regression. (3) Results: In the cases of EOS, both IL-6 and CRP were elevated. The increase in CRP can be predicted by the initial increase in IL-6 levels. Among the assessed risk factors, intrapartum maternal fever (adjusted odds ratio 18.1; 95% CI (1.7–4.1)) was identified as the only risk factor significantly associated with EOS. (4) Conclusions: Employing IL-6 as an early infection marker enhanced EOS diagnostic precision due to its detectable early rise. However, caution is required, as elevations in IL-6 and CRP levels do not exclusively indicate EOS. Increased CRP levels in healthy newborns with maternal risk factors may be attributed to dynamics of vaginal labor.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
11010053 and 22279067
Volume :
11
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Children
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.5cb8a98a562b41ce81134702ba74bb7b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/children11010053