Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Presepsin as Biomarker of Bacterial Sepsis in Paediatric Patients

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of serum Presepsin for bacterial sepsis in paediatric patients keeping blood culture as the gold standard test.Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Chemical Pathology, Paediatric Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit, King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Mayo Hospital Lahore, from December 2020 to May 2021.A total of 57 patients, aged >4 weeks and ≤12 years with suspicion of sepsis on the basis of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome to be confirmed by blood culture were enrolled in the study after informed consent. Patients with renal dysfunction and congenital anomalies were excluded. Blood samples were taken for blood culture and Presepsin levels. Presepsin levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analysed by SPSS-20. Quantitative variables were presented as median (IQR) or mean ± SD depending on data distribution. Qualitative variables were presented as frequency and percentage. ROC curve was plotted to determine the optimal cut-off value of Presepsin levels to differentiate between sepsis and non-sepsis. Sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of Presepsin were calculated.The median (IQR) age and total leukocyte count, and male: female ratio was not significantly different in patients with and without sepsis. Using 600 pg/ml cut-off value, Sn, Sp, PPV, and NPV for Presepsin were calculated as 72.73, 71.43, 62 and 81%, respectively.Serum Presepsin level has overall good diagnostic accuracy to diagnose bacterial sepsis.Presepsin, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, Bacterial sepsis, Paediatric patients.