Diagnostic and Monitoring Value of β-2 Transferrin and Transferrin for Intracranial Infection After Neurosurgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: After neurosurgery, intracranial infection is a common complication with high rates of clinical impairment and death. Traditional diagnostic approaches are time-consuming. Early and correct diagnosis improves infection control, treatment success, and survival. Novel markers are used to diagnose and classify post-neurosurgical meningitis (PNM) to overcome the difficulties of diagnosing postoperative intracranial infections and avoid the drawbacks of existing diagnostic measures. The objective was to investigate the diagnostic value of β-2 transferrin (β-2TF) and transferrin (TF) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the identification of intracranial infection after neurosurgery. METHODS: Owing to their symptoms and laboratory results, 168 patients with suspected intracranial infection after neurosurgery were divided into 3 groups: post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis (PNBM; n = 61), post-neurosurgical aseptic meningitis (PNAM; n = 45), and non-PNM (n = 62). We measured lactate (LA), β-2TF, and TF levels in the CSF. RESULTS: CSF LA levels were significantly higher in the PNM, PNBM, and PNAM groups compared with the non-PNM group ( P < .05). The CSF β-2TF level in PNM, PNBM, and PNAM were statistically higher than those in non-PNMs ( P < .05). CSF TF levels in the PNBM group were statistically higher than those in the PNAM and non-PNM groups ( P < .05). The PNBM and non-PNM receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis indicates that the cutoff values for the combination (LA, β-2TF, TF) was 0.347, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.945 ( P < .0001), with 92.86% sensitivity and 92.98% specificity. The PNAM and non-PNM ROC analysis indicates that the cutoff values for the combination (LA, β-2TF, TF) was 0.346, and the AUC was 0.942 ( P < .0001), with 89.29% sensitivity and 90.24% specificity. The PNM and non-PNM ROC analysis indicates that the cutoff values for the combination (LA, β-2TF, TF) was 0.609, and the AUC was 0.941 ( P < .0001), with 96.36% sensitivity and 82.83% specificity. A Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8, LA, β-2TF/TF ratio, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit admission, poor surgical wound, and craniotomy were associated with poor outcomes ( P < .05). LA and β-2TF were independent risk factors for intracranial infection. CONCLUSION: Postoperative cerebral infections can be identified using CSF β-2TF as a particular marker protein. CSF TF helps distinguish PNBM from PNAM. Combining CSF LA with them improves diagnostic speed, sensitivity, and accuracy. LA and β-2TF were independent risk factors for cerebral infection.