Likelihood of blood culture positivity using SeptiCyte RAPID

Early diagnosis and identification of causative pathogens using blood culture in patients suspected of Blood Stream Infection (BSI) and sepsis are critical for improving patient outcomes through early and more targeted treatment. There is a need for tools that can guide the use of microbiologic diagnostics, especially where resources are limited, such as in lower and middle income countries (LMICs), pandemic and mass-casualty scenarios, and prolonged field care settings during military operations. MethodsPost-hoc retrospective analysis of individual patient data from three prospective clinical studies, conducted in North America, Europe and Africa, to investigate the association between SeptiCyte RAPID test results (SeptiScores) and blood culture (BC) results. Hypothesisthat a significant correlation exists between elevated SeptiScores and positive blood culture results, and between low SeptiScores and negative blood culture results. ResultsThe area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) was 0.91 for 85 BC(+) versus 257 SIRS, and was 0.80 for 164 BC(-) versus 257 SIRS. As the SeptiScore increases, the relative probability of a septic patient being BC(+) as opposed to BC(-) also increases. A non-linear positive correlation is observed. Below a crossover point at SeptiScore 10, the ratio of probabilities of BC(+) sepsis / BC(-) sepsis is <1 while above the crossover point this ratio is >1. Thus, septic patients with SeptiScores >10 have a higher probability of being BC(+) compared to BC(-). ConclusionsElevated SeptiScores, obtained before blood culture results, are indicative of increased blood culture positivity. This may have clinical utility, particularly in resource limited settings, as an aid for improving the efficiency of blood culture practice, for instance by informing patient selection and interpretation of blood culture results.