DIAGNOSTIC EFFICACY OF HAEMATOLOGICAL MARKERS AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN VALUE IN SUSPECTED PATIENTS OF SEPSIS

Objective:This study hopes to gauge the separate and combined diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the different diagnostic modalities, in an attempt to draft a guideline for sepsis diagnosis. Methodology:The cross-sectional analysis was conducted at the department of medicine, Liaquat university hospital, upon a total of 200 patients (100 with clinical features of sepsis and another 100 normal asymptomatic individuals) from January 2017 to July 2017. C.R.P (C - Reactive Protein), A.N.C (Absolute Neutrophil Count) and G.A.C (Gastric Aspirate Cytology) for platelets and polymorphs were used for sepsis diagnosis. Results:CRP was positive in 86% of group-A (proven sepsis) and 81% of group-B (suspected sepsis) and consequently, the specificity was 95%. ANC test, was the runner-up with regards to sensitivity (Group A = 71% and Group-B = 64%). The resultant specificity was thus 88%. The sensitivity of GAC in group A for platelet count and polymorphs was 64% and 71%respectively. Conclusion:All the aforementioned set of clinical investigations have proved largely sensitive on an individual basis and should be used for detection of culture negative cases of sepsis. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with other tests, the individual specificity and sensitivity of all the tests is heightened. Keywords: Sepsis, Specificity, Diagnostic value, Screening, c - reactive protein, hematological markers, gastric aspirate cytology, absolute neutrophil count.