Emerging Role of Monocyte Distribution Width for Early Sepsis Detection in Adult Intensive Care

A dysregulated host response to infection results in sepsis, where the mortality rate is high. A crucial component of managing sepsis is early detection and diagnosis. Advanced Haematology analyzers use volume, conductivity, and scatter (VCS) parameters to measure monocyte distribution width (MDW). An abnormal monocyte distribution width (MDW) greater than 20 U is considered a sign of sepsis. This study was done to utilize the potential of MDW as an early sepsis marker in ICU patients. Venous blood samples were collected from seventy-four patients suspected of having sepsis during a two-year prospective observational study. Sepsis cases were identified using the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria. Patients who received blood transfusions were excluded from this study. The DxH900 Haematology Analyzer (Beckman Coulter Inc., Miami, FL) was used to measure the MDW value. Procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and total leucocyte count (TLC) were among the other conventional biomarkers of sepsis that were assessed. Seventy-four patients met the criteria for sepsis, of which twenty-three had septic shock. MDW was highest for patients in septic shock (P-value = 0.018). We have observed that as TLC, CRP, and PCT levels increased, so did MDW. As the SIRS score rose, it was discovered that the mean MDW value increased. In advanced Haematology analyzers, MDW, a new hematological parameter, is computed along with the complete blood count. When combined with other sepsis biomarkers, MDW is anticipated to be a helpful indicator for early sepsis screening in intensive care unit patients.