Active clinical trials for "Sepsis"

Sepsis is an acute pathology defined as an inappropriate response of the host to infection, resulting in the onset of organ failure (Quick SOFA ≥2, or SOFA ≥2). Septic shock is a sepsis associated with an elevation of lactate ≥ 2 mmol / l and an arterial hypotension requiring vasoactive drugs. Several studies highlighted that sepsis is associated with a plasma L-arginine deficiency. This deficiency induces a lower availability of L-arginine for multiple metabolic pathways including those involved in the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) in the vascular endothelium via NO synthase. NO is the main endogenous vasodilator mediator, a lower synthesis induces a vascular and endothelial dysfunction that can promote the occurrence of an organic dysfunction during sepsis. Decrease in available NO was confirmed in patients with sepsis and appears correlated with severity. L-arginine deficiency can have multiple origins: L-arginine deficiency resulting from a decrease in endogenous production from citrulline synthesized by the enterocytes. Such enterocyte dysfunction has been confirmed in patients with sepsis and is characterized biologically by elevated plasma levels of I-FABP (intestinal fatty acid binding protein - enterocyte-specific protein, cytolysis marker) and lower than that of citrulline (hypocitrullinemia, marker of lower activity). L-arginine deficiency may also result from a catabolism increase via arginase activity increased. This ubiquitous enzyme, having 2 isoforms (Arg1 and Arg2), allows the synthesis of urea and ornithine from L-arginine. An increase in arginase activity would decrease the available reserves of L-arginine for NO synthesis. The objectives of this work is to evaluate, in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, the prognostic value of the plasma arginase activity and the plasma expression of 2 isoforms Arg1 and Arg2, their kinetics, and the link between activity / expression of arginase and enterocyte dysfunction.

Septic shock is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) can progress over hours to days to severe sepsis and septic shock. Currently, lactate levels are used to guide resuscitative efforts and have been shown to be a predictor of mortality independent of vital sign abnormalities (1). However, their use seems to be limited to trending in a given patient, and not for prognostic value of a single level (2). This is because there is significant overlap in lactate levels of individuals who progress to death and multisystem organ failure as compared to those who do not (2). Blood cultures are also extensively used to detect blood stream infection (BSI), but these are time consuming and are not immediately useful to clinicians caring for sick patients. A biomarker that adequately distinguishes between patients at high risk for progression to severe sepsis/shock/death and those who will not would be helpful in the appropriate initiation of aggressive treatment and appropriate disposition of patients in clinical care. Previously, the investigators demonstrated that sPLA2-IIA detected by ELISA assay had a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 91% in detecting sepsis (3). Zeus Pharmaceuticals has developed a bedside point-of-care test measuring sPLA2-IIA in real time. The investigators propose to study this assay in terms of its discriminatory value in distinguishing between SIRS from non-infectious causes, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock in a cohort of patients presenting to the emergency department at Anderson and Bethlehem campuses. The investigators propose to better define the threshold level for this marker assay as well as seek to establish its utility in a clinical population. The investigators will take samples of blood from emergency department patients presenting who meet SIRS criteria or have a positive q-SOFA screen. The investigators will take subsequent samples of blood when lactate levels are redrawn as per St. Luke's sepsis protocol. After informed consent is obtained, blood specimens will be run in analyzer provided by Zeus for sPLA2-IIA. The investigators will record presence and quantity of sPLA2-IIA, as well as other markers of sepsis such as lactate, vital signs, blood cultures, and patient oriented outcomes (ie ICU days, organ dysfunction, and survival to discharge). Printouts from analyzer will be stored in locked cabinet, and remaining blood will be discarded. The data will then be compiled by the investigators at St. Luke's University Hospital. The results will be correlated with the patients' clinical progression to determine the biomarker's utility and cut-off values for predicting progression of SIRS. As clear threshold levels for this marker have yet to be defined, the investigators would like to enroll patients meeting criteria until the investigators have enrolled 50 patients with septic shock. It is anticipated that, proportionally, this will lead to enrollment of 75-100 patients with severe sepsis, 100-150 patients with sepsis, and 100-150 patients meeting SIRS criteria who are not septic. This will help delineate if there is any value in this assay for distinguishing among the severity of sepsis pathophysiology.

The aim of the current study is to demonstrate dysregulation of immune system΄s circadian rhythms as a consequence of sepsis, as well as marked malfunction of the central circadian clock in comparison with patients without sepsis , the presence of which burdens independently the final outcome and , hence, need to be addressed.

A prospective observational cohort study investigating physiological parameters vs biological markers of whole blood in septic and non-septic pregnant woman to predict systemic immune health

Registry on the use of the CytoSorb® adsorber in ICU patients.

There is an observational, clinical study. We recruit sepsis patients to investigate what drives peripheral lymphocyte loss in sepsis.

By clinical record review, this retrospective study aims to compare the mortality of sepsis patients with versus without obstructive sleep apnea, who were diagnosed and treated in Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.

This is a cross-sectional study to evaluate the utilities of a panel of biomarkers (Procalcitonin, Interleukin-6, Serum Amyloid A and Apolipoprotein C2) versus the gold standard blood culture result diagnosing late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) and/or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Neonates who meet the initial screening criteria for suspected LONS or NEC will be recruited into the study. A group of 50 neonates who are clinically well, admitted to the nursery or general ward for reasons other than neonatal sepsis or NEC will also be recruited into the study.

This ancillary study determines whether the Crystalloid Liberal or Vasopressors Early Resuscitation in Sepsis (CLOVERS) [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03434028] treatment arms (restrictive fluids strategy vs. liberal fluid strategy) for early sepsis-induced hypotension are associated with differences in cardiac structure and function based on an echocardiogram at 24 hours after randomization. Secondarily, this ancillary study explores possible heterogeneity of treatment effect based on an echocardiogram performed shortly after randomization in CLOVERS.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether bacterial DNA clearance measured with droplet digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) can be used as a measure of bacterial load in septic intensive care patients. Furthermore, the aim is to examine a possible relation between clearance of bacterial DNA and clinical outcome in the septic patient, and the relationship between concentration of beta-lactam antibiotics and the clearance of bacterial DNA.