Study identifies promising biomarker for early sepsis detection in neonates, children and pregnant women

A research introduced at ESCMID International 2025 has uncovered the potential of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a robust diagnostic biomarker for the early detection of sepsis in high-risk affected person teams, together with neonates, youngsters and pregnant ladies. This research is the primary to judge IL-6’s diagnostic efficiency in a real-world cohort throughout all three populations.

Sepsis, a life-threatening situation ensuing from the immune system’s overreaction to an infection, stays a number one world reason for mortality, accounting for an estimated 11 million deaths yearly.

Younger youngsters, particularly these below 5, and pregnant ladies are extremely weak as a result of immunological modifications and elevated susceptibility. Diagnosing sepsis throughout being pregnant is very difficult, as physiological modifications can obscure its early indicators.

Immediate analysis is essential, but difficult, as a result of non-specific signs of sepsis and the constraints of conventional diagnostic biomarkers, resembling C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), which have delayed responses and suboptimal sensitivity. Given the fast development of sepsis, there may be an pressing want for biomarkers that supply quicker, extra correct analysis to allow well timed intervention.

The retrospective cohort research analyzed serial blood samples from 252 sufferers (111 pediatric, 72 maternity, and 69 neonatal circumstances) with suspected sepsis.

Sufferers had been labeled by an infection sort (bacterial, viral, or no an infection) and physiological response (regular, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis and septic shock). Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by means of AUROC evaluation (starting from 1.0, an ideal take a look at with 100% specificity and sensitivity, to 0.5, a totally ineffective take a look at).

IL-6 constantly outperformed conventional biomarkers in distinguishing bacterial from non-bacterial infections, with AUROC values of 0.91 in youngsters, 0.94 in maternal sufferers, and 0.86 in neonates. IL-6 additionally successfully stratified sepsis severity, distinguishing between delicate an infection, sepsis, and septic shock, a essential functionality for guiding well timed and acceptable remedy.

By way of sensitivity and specificity, IL-6 exceeded 80% in each pediatric and maternal sufferers, detecting bacterial infections with 91% sensitivity in youngsters and 94% in pregnant ladies. In neonates, whereas IL-6 maintained excessive specificity (97.1%), its sensitivity (67.6%) was decrease.

These decrease sensitivity and AUROC values could also be partly attributable to the complexities of diagnosing neonatal sepsis, the place there isn’t a clear consensus definition. The broader spectrum of shows in neonatal sepsis may contribute to those variations.

Discussing the benefits of IL-6 over conventional biomarkers, Dr. Seán Whelan, lead creator, explains, “IL-6 secretion rises inside one to 2 hours, peaks at six hours and reduces by 24 hours, whereas CRP and PCT peak a lot later at 48 and 24 hours, respectively. This quicker, steeper response makes IL-6 a promising biomarker for earlier sepsis detection.”

Dr. Whelan additionally highlighted its rising scientific software. “IL-6 is already in routine use in our establishments, the Rotunda Hospital and Kids’s Well being Eire at Temple Avenue, for these populations.

“The challenges to wider adoption have been lessened by the event of commercially obtainable testing on generally used platforms, which might present real-time outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this course of, as IL-6 testing turned extra extensively utilized in assessing affected person irritation.”

“Our findings reinforce the potential of IL-6 as a promising biomarker in sepsis analysis”, concludes Dr. Whelan. “With wider adoption and together with scientific evaluation, IL-6 may considerably enhance scientific decision-making and assist well timed, focused remedy for high-risk sufferers.”

Offered by
European Society of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Illnesses