Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Cecal Ligation Puncture Procedure
11:53

Cecal Ligation Puncture Procedure

Published on: May 7, 2011

55.5K

Cytokine production and outcome in MDR versus non-MDR gram-negative bacteraemia and sepsis

Vasileios Karamouzos1, Evangelos J Giamarellos-Bourboulis2, Dimitrios Velissaris3

  • 1Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece.

Infectious Diseases (London, England)
|June 17, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Multidrug-resistant sepsis patients show a weaker immune response but poorer survival. Carbapenem resistance, male gender, APACHE II score, and angiopoietin-2 levels predict mortality in sepsis.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Sepsis is a life-threatening condition involving a cytokine storm.
  • The relationship between cytokine levels and pathogen susceptibility in sepsis is debated.
  • Understanding immune response variations in multidrug-resistant (MDR) sepsis is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate immune responses in MDR and non-MDR sepsis patients by measuring cytokine levels.
  • To compare patient outcomes based on MDR status.
  • To identify predictors of mortality in sepsis patients.

Main Methods:

  • 128 sepsis patients in the ICU were enrolled.
  • Plasma levels of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and sTREM-1 were measured.
  • Epidemiological and ICU data, including APACHE II scores, were collected.

Main Results:

  • Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were higher in non-MDR sepsis patients (p=0.017).
  • Pro-inflammatory cytokines increased with higher APACHE II scores.
  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) sepsis patients had significantly lower 28-day survival (p=0.008).
  • Predictors of mortality included carbapenem resistance (OR 5.38), male gender (OR 2.76), APACHE II score (OR 1.126), and Ang-2 (OR 1.025).

Conclusions:

  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens may elicit a weaker immune response (lower TNF-α) but do not improve survival.
  • Increased angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) levels, higher APACHE II scores, and carbapenem resistance are significant predictors of mortality in sepsis.
  • Sepsis outcomes are multifactorial, influenced by pathogen resistance and host immune response.
Keywords:
Sepsisangiopoietin-2carbapenem resistancecytokinesmultidrug resistancetumour necrosis factor-a

More Related Videos

Design of Cecal Ligation and Puncture and Intranasal Infection Dual Model of Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression07:30

Design of Cecal Ligation and Puncture and Intranasal Infection Dual Model of Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression

Published on: June 15, 2019

10.2K
A Reproducible Intensive Care Unit-Oriented Endotoxin Model in Rats05:56

A Reproducible Intensive Care Unit-Oriented Endotoxin Model in Rats

Published on: February 20, 2021

2.3K

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis01:24

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...