Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Cardiology
Utility of procalcitonin in diagnosing early postoperative sepsis after pediatric cardiac surgery in Malaysia: Muhammad Yusoff Mohd Ramdzan, Kah Kee Tan, Kok Wai Soo; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(4):567-573. Published online November 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.005016

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Abstract PDF: Background
Systemic inflammation following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can interfere with analysis of routine clinical and biochemical parameters. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a potential biomarker for diagnosing early postoperative sepsis in pediatric patients following cardiac surgery utilizing CPB. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PCT compared to other biomarkers, especially C-reactive protein (CRP), in this clinical setting.
Methods
A prospective single-center study was conducted over a 10-month period during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (2021–2022), enrolling 89 pediatric patients postcardiac surgery. PCT, CRP, and complete blood count were analyzed, and area under the curve (AUC) was employed for statistical analysis.
Results
PCT and CRP demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability with AUCs of 0.678 and 0.635, respectively. White cell count exhibited fair discriminatory power, and platelet count performed poorly in distinguishing septic from nonseptic cases (AUC: white cell count, 0.545; platelet, 0.486).
Conclusions
PCT and CRP hold promise as diagnostic markers for early postoperative sepsis in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. However, these biomarkers are not adequate standalone indicators, emphasizing the continued need for clinical judgment supported by multiple diagnostic parameters.

Infection
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-to-albumin ratio as a prognostic marker for mortality in sepsis and septic shock in Vietnam: Nguyen Van Viet Thang, Le Thi Luyen, Nguyen Thi Tuong Vi, Pham Dang Hai; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(2):244-251. Published online May 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.003576

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Background
Sepsis and septic shock are life-threatening global health challenges associated with high mortality rates. Early identification of high-risk patients is critical for improving outcomes. In the present study, the association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-to-albumin ratio (NLAR) and mortality in septic patients was evaluated.
Methods
A retrospective study was performed at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam. Patients ≥18 years of age diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock based on the Sepsis-3 criteria were included. Exclusion criteria included recent corticosteroid use within 7 days, autoimmune diseases, hematological disorders, and active cancer within 5 years. NLAR was calculated from complete blood counts and albumin levels within the first 24 hours of intensive care unit admission. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the predictive ability of NLAR for in-hospital mortality.
Results
The present study included 141 patients with a mean age of 72 years. Non-survivors were significantly older with higher rates of mechanical ventilation. NLAR was significantly elevated in non-survivors compared with survivors (0.88 [0.57–1.24] vs. 0.44 [0.28–0.77], P<0.001). In ROC analysis, the area under the curve for NLAR was 0.70 (P<0.001). Using a cutoff value of 0.56, NLAR showed a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 61.5% for predicting in-hospital mortality.
Conclusions
Elevated NLAR on admission was associated with a higher mortality rate in sepsis patients. NLAR could be used as an early prognostic marker for sepsis mortality.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Altered albumin/neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio are associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality for advanced cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome
Xiaoshuang Yin, Jinmei Zou, Jing Yang
Frontiers in Nutrition.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The Neutrophil-to-Albumin Ratio (NAR) Reflects the Severity of the Post-CABG Inflammatory Response and Is Associated with a Pre-Existing Pro-Inflammatory Monocyte Profile
Mikhail A. Popov, Siarhei A. Dabravolski, Vladislav V. Dontsov, Sergei A. Vzvarov, Evgeniy G. Agafonov, Dmitriy I. Zybin, Alexandra K. Kharabet, Olga V. Radchenkova, Dmitriy R. Saveliev, Victoria P. Pronina, Svetlana S. Verkhova, Nikita G. Nikiforov, Yego
Life.2025; 15(12): 1790. CrossRef
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Sepsis and Sepsis-Related Organ Dysfunction
Wenbo Yan, Xiyuan Xu, Xiaojuan Li, Yushu Ma, Lining Guo, Jingping Yang, Zhipeng Jin, Jie Zhang, Tiewei Li
ImmunoTargets and Therapy.2025; Volume 14: 1373. CrossRef

Pulmonary
Closed intensive care units and sepsis patient outcomes: a secondary analysis of data from a multicenter prospective observational study in South Korea: Kyeongman Jeon, Jin Hyoung Kim, Kyung Chan Kim, Heung Bum Lee, Hongyeul Lee, Song I Lee, Jin-Won Huh, Won Gun Kwack, Youjin Chang, Yun-Seong Kang, Won Yeon Lee, Je Hyeong Kim; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(2):209-220. Published online May 22, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.004128

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Abstract PDF: Background
Sepsis is a leading cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. However, few studies have evaluated how the ICU model affects the outcomes of patients with sepsis.
Methods
This post hoc analysis of data from the Management of Severe Sepsis in Asia’s Intensive Care Units II study included 537 patients with sepsis admitted to 27 ICUs in Korea. The outcome measures of interest were compared between the closed ICU group, patients admitted under the full responsibility of an intensivist as the primary attending physician, and the open ICU group. The association between a closed ICU and ICU mortality was evaluated using a logistic regression analysis.
Results
Altogether, 363 and 174 enrolled patients were treated in open and closed ICUs, respectively. Compliance with the sepsis bundles did not differ between the two groups; however, the closed ICU group had a higher rate of renal replacement therapy and shorter duration of ventilator support. The closed ICU group also had a lower ICU mortality rate than the open ICU group (24.7% vs. 33.1%). In a logistic regression analysis, management in the closed ICU was significantly associated with a decreased ICU mortality rate even after adjusting for potential confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio, 0.576; 95% CI, 0.342–0.970), and that association was observed for up to 90 days.
Conclusions
Sepsis management in closed ICUs was significantly associated with improved ICU survival and decreased length of ICU stay, even though the compliance rates for the sepsis bundles did not differ between open and closed ICUs.

Infection
The association between defecation frequency and mortality in critically ill patients with suspected sepsis in Israel: Michael Roimi, Anat Shrot, Roy Ilan, Avraham Tenenbaum, Danny Epstein, Yaron Bar-Lavie; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):38-45. Published online February 18, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.000696

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Abstract PDF: Background
The pivotal role of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in sepsis is well recognized. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between defecation frequency as a basic assessment of GI function and the clinical outcomes of intensive care unit patients with suspected sepsis.
Methods
This retrospective, single-center study included patients suspected of having sepsis. The number of defecations and consecutive days without defecation during the 72 hours preceding the suspected infection were assessed. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Multivariate regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders was employed to establish the associations between GI function and clinical outcomes.
Results
The final analysis included 1,306 patients with a median age of 56.2 years (interquartile range [IQR], 39.6–69.1); 919 (70.4%) were male, and the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 22.0 (IQR, 17.0–27.0). The median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at the time of suspected infection was 5.0 (IQR, 3.0–7.0). Mortality rates were 20.3%, 28.0%, and 34.3% for patients with 0–2, 3–5, and >5 defecations, respectively (P<0.001). There was a strong correlation between the number of defecations and mortality (r=0.7, P=0.01). In multivariate analyses, each defecation was independently associated with increased mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01–1.12; P=0.01), while each consecutive day without a defecation was associated with reduced mortality (aOR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73–0.96; P=0.01).
Conclusions
A higher number of defecations in the 72 hours preceding suspected sepsis is associated with increased 30-day all-cause mortality, suggesting a potential association with GI tract dysfunction.

Pediatrics
Hyper- and hypomagnesemia as an initial predictor of outcomes in septic pediatric patients in Egypt: Aya Osama Mohamed; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):105-112. Published online February 4, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.000480

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Abstract PDF: Background
Critically ill septic children are susceptible to electrolyte abnormalities, including magnesium disturbance, which can easily be neglected. This study examined the potential correlation between serum magnesium levels upon admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and the outcomes of critically ill septic patients.
Methods
This prospective study, conducted from May 2023 to November 2023, included 76 children with sepsis who underwent clinical and lab assessments that included initial magnesium levels. The outcome of sepsis was documented. Predictors of mortality were identified through multivariate logistic regression models, with discrimination and calibration assessed using the area under the curve (AUC).
Results
The median magnesium level upon PICU admission was 2.0 mg/dl (range 1.1–4.9), and it was slightly higher in non-survivors than survivors (2.1 mg/dl; interquartile range [IQR], 1.9–2.5 vs. 2.0; IQR, 1.8–2.6, respectively), Hypermagnesemia was observed to have a negative effect on critically ill septic patients. It was also found that hypermagnesemia was associated with low C-reactive protein levels (P=0.043). With a cutoff of 5.5, the pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score strongly predicted mortality (AUC=0.717, P<0.001), with a sensitivity of 64.3% and specificity of 68.8%.
Conclusions
As an initial predictor of mortality, the serum magnesium level cannot be used alone; however, hypermagnesemia has a negative impact on critically ill septic patients. Thus, healthcare professionals should be cautious with magnesium administration.

Infection
Challenges of implementing the hour-1 sepsis bundle: a qualitative study from a secondary hospital in Indonesia: Priyo Sasmito, Satriya Pranata, Rian Adi Pamungkas, Etika Emaliyawati, Nisa Arifani; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(4):545-553. Published online November 27, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01473

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