STUDYING SEPSIS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF THE OBSTETRICS DEPARTMENT CONCERNING THE SCORING SYSTEM AND BIOMARKERS

Abstract

Background: Early initiation of treatment and early diagnosis of sepsis can help in preventing the progression of
sepsis to septic shock and severe sepsis. Considering a continuous increase in the severity and rate of maternal sepsis
globally and limited literature data showing the actual burden of maternal sepsis.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of several biomarkers in patients
diagnosed with sepsis and admitted to the obstetrics department's intensive care unit (ICU). The biomarkers were
compared to clinical criteria in these patients.
Methods: Procalcitonin, serum lactate, and CRP were among the quantitative biomarkers for sepsis that were tested
for 104 patients who were clinically evaluated using SOFA and q SOFA scores after being hospitalized to the
obstetrics department's critical care unit. Additionally, research was done on the biomarkers' and clinical criteria's
specificity and sensitivity.
Results: Serum lactate and procalcitonin were shown to have a high specificity and sensitivity among biomarkers of
sepsis patients. In the current study, q SOFA scores demonstrated a low specificity of 57.58% and a high sensitivity
of 78.7%; in contrast, total SOFA scores demonstrated a high specificity of 84.78%, indicating the role of total SOFA
scores as confirmatory criteria and q SOFA as a screening-criteria in subjects with sepsis.
Conclusion: The current study suggests that serum lactate combined with procalcitonin is the most sensitive and
specific predictor of prognosis in patients with maternal sepsis, while CRP is the least specific biomarker for maternal
sepsis. Maternal sepsis can be detected early with the use of total SOFA and q SOFA scores.