Study Identifies Promising Biomarker for Early Sepsis Detection In Neonates, Children and Pregnant Women

A STUDY PRESED AT Global Escmid 2025 has uncoved the potential of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as Powerful Diagnostic Biomarker for the Early Detection of Sepsis in High-Risk Patient groups, Including Neonates, Children and Pregnant Women. This Study is the First To Evaluate IL-6’s Diagnostic Performance In A Real-World Cohort Across All Three Population.

Sepsis, the Life-Threatning Condition Resulting from the Imamune System’s Overrection to Infection, Remains a Leading Global Cause of Mortality, Accounting for An Estimated 11 Million Deaths Annually.

Young Children, specially tose under Five, and pregnant women are Highly vulnerable due to immunological changes and inchesed susceptibility. Diagnose sepsis during pregnancy is specially challenging, the Physiological Changes can obscure its early signs.

Prompt Diagnosis Is Critical, Yet Challenging, Due to the Non-Specific Symptles of Sepsis and the Limitations of Traditional Diagnostic Biomarkers, Such As C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Procalitonin (PCT), Which have delayed Responses and sub-opimal sensitivity. Given the Rapid Progression of Sepsis, There is an u urgent need for biomarkers that offste, more accurate diagnosis to enable timely intervention.

The Retrospective Cohort Study Analyzed Serial Blood Samples From 252 Patients (111 Pediatric, 72 Maternity, and 69 Neonatal Cases) with Suscted Sepsis.

PATIES WERE CLASSIFIED BY INFECT TYPE (Bacterial, Viral, OR IN INFECTION) AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE (Normal, Systemic Infummary Response Syndrome, Sepsis and Septic Shock). Diagnostic Accuracy was Evaluated Through Auroc Analysis (Ranging from 1.0, Perfect Test with 100% Specity and Sensitivity, to 0.5, the Completely ineffective test).

IL-6 Consistency Outperforded Traditional Biomarkers in Distinguish Bacterial from Non-Bacterial Infections, with Auroc Values ​​of 0.91 In Children, 0.94 in Maternal Patients, and 0.86 in neonates. IL-6 Also Effectivelly Stratified Sepsis Severity, Distinguishing Between Mill Infection, Sepsis, and Septic Shock, Critical Capability for Guiding Timely and Appropriate Treatment.

In Terms of Sensitivity and Specicity, IL-6 EXCEED 80% in Both Pediatric and Maternal Patients, Detecting Bacterial Infections with 91% Sensitivity in Children and 94% In Pregnant Women. In neonates, While Il-6 Mainintained High Specity (97.1%), ITS Sensitivity (67.6%) was Lower.

These Lower Sensitivity and Auroc Values ​​May Be Partly Attributable To the Complexities of Neonatal Sepsis, Where There Is Is No Clear Consensus Definition. The Broader Spectrum of Presentations in Neonatal Sepsis May Also Contribute to These Differences.

Discussing The Advantages of Il-6 Over Traditional Biomarkers, Dr. Seán Whelan, Lead Author, Explains, “Il-6 Secret Rises Whin to Two Hours, Peaks at Six Hours and Decrases BY 24 Hours, whersas Crp and PCT Peak Much Later at 48 and 24 hours, respective. This fosster, Steeper Response Makes IL-6 to Promising Biomarker for Earlier Sepsis Detection. “

Dr. Whelan Also HighLighted its Growing Clinical Application. “IL-6 IS ALREADY IN ROUTINE USE IN OUR INSTITUTIONS, THE ROTE HOSPITAL AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH IRELAND AT TEMPLE STREET, FOR THAT POPULATIONS.

“The Challenges to Wider Adoption Have Been Lessed By the Development of Commercially Avilable Testing on Commonly Used Platforms, Which Provide Real-Time Results. The Covid-19 Pandemic Accelerated this process, the IL-6 Testing Became More More Widiel Used in Assessing Patient inflammation. “

“Our Findings Reinforce The Potential of Il-6 as Promising Biomarker In Sepsis Diagnosis,” concludes Dr. Whelan. “With Wider Adoption and In Combination with Clinical Assessment, IL-6 COULD SIGNENTLY IMPROVE CLINICAL-MAKING AND SUPPORT TIMELY, TARGED TREATMENT FOR HIGHO-TRI PATIENTS.”

Provided by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases