Plasma Presepsin may Diagnose Postoperative Infections with high sensitivity and specificity

In a recent meta-analysis, Pan You and team identified a potential element in the detection of postoperative infections, that continue to plague patients undergoing various surgical procedures. The findings were published in The American Journal of Surgery.

The study encompassed data from 14 research endeavors and a pool of 1891 cases, focused on evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of presepsin, a biomarker, to detect postoperative infections. The research covered a spectrum of surgical interventions, including procedures associated with surgical site infections (SSIs), remote infections, sepsis, and septic shock.

The results brought out that, with presepsin demonstrating a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 81%. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) stands at a noteworthy 14, showcasing the potential of presepsin as a reliable tool for identifying postoperative infectious complications. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) reached an impressive 84, underscoring the robustness of presepsin as a diagnostic marker.

When compared to conventional markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), presepsin emerges as a superior diagnostic tool. It exhibits both heightened sensitivity and specificity across a diverse range of surgical procedures.

These findings observed a significant shift in postoperative care protocols. The potential of presepsin to detect infections promptly offers a ray of hope in mitigating the persistently high rates of postoperative infections. With the promising results, presepsin could become a staple in postoperative monitoring, aiding clinicians in swift and accurate intervention.

While the results are positive, the outcomes of the study emphasize the need for further exploration.  This study could reshape the landscape of postoperative infection detection, offering a potential oppurtunity for countless patients undergoing surgical interventions.

Source:

You, P., Gao, R.-Y., Han, Y.-Z., Zhang, X.-K., Li, W.-X., & Huang, L.-F. (2023). Postoperative plasma presepsin as a biomarker of postoperative infectious complications in different surgical departments: A meta-analysis and systematic review. In The American Journal of Surgery. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.11.024