The relationship between immune status as measured by stimulated ex-vivo tumour necrosis factor alpha levels and the acquisition of nosocomial infections in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Immunological dysfunction is common in critically ill patients but its clinical significance and the optimal method to measure it are unknown. The level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) after ex-vivo whole blood stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been proposed as a possible method to quantify immunological function. We hypothesized that in a cohort of critically ill patients, those with a lower post-stimulation TNF-α level would have increased rates of nosocomial infections (NIs) and worse clinical outcomes.

Methods

A secondary analysis of a phase 2 randomized, multi-centre, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. As there was no difference between treatment and control arms in outcomes and NI rate, all the patients were analyzed as one cohort.

SUBMITTER: Levin G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7494693 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature