Early Detection of Blood Culture Positivity in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients Using Immature Granulocyte Percentage and Absolute Count

Introduction:  This study assesses immature granulocyte count as an early predictor of blood culture positivity in pediatric cardiac patients. Early diagnosis of sepsis is crucial but challenging. Blood culture is the gold standard; however, obtaining results takes ۴۸-۷۲ h. The study compares these indicators with other predictive markers of sepsis. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from ۲۰۰ pediatric patients to assess the use of immature granulocyte count as an early predictor of blood culture positivity in pediatric cardiac surgery patients with sepsis. The patients were divided into two groups based on blood culture results: positive and negative. A complete blood count was conducted for both groups, including immature granulocyte count and demographic information. The data were collected for two periods: ۲۴-۴۸ h before the blood culture and ۲۴ hours after. The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of immature granulocyte count and compare it with other established predictive markers of sepsis. The blood counts were performed using SYSMAX XN۱۰۰۰. Results: The study observed higher immature granulocyte counts in patients with culture-positive results during period ۲ diagnosis (P<۰.۰۰۱). No significant differences were found in other lab parameters between the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that an immature granulocyte count ≥ ۹۰ was helpful in predicting blood culture positivity in pediatric cardiac surgery patients with sepsis. Conclusion: Our study reveals that the Absolute Immature Granulocyte Count and Immature Granulocyte percentage (IG%) significantly increase within ۲۴-۴۸ hours of positive blood cultures compared to negative cases.

Keywords:

Absolute Immature Granulocyte Count , Immature Granulocyte percentage , Blood culture , Sepsis , Pediatric cardiac surgery