Evaluation of use of Volume Conductivity Scatter Parameters as Early Indicator of Sepsis in Elderly Patients: A Hospital Based Case Control Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sepsis in elderly patients is a critical clinicalissue due to high rates of morbidity and mortality. The modernage cell counters precisely measure volume, size and internalstructure of the cell thereby assessing increase in volumeand cytoplasmic granularity of leukocytes as seen in casesof sepsis. The present study was done to evaluate the useof Volume Conductivity Scatter (VCS) parameters as earlyindicators of sepsis in elderly patients and to overcome theshortcomings of blood culture by using a more precise VCStechnology to assess morphologic changes in cell populationsin sepsis.Material and Method: The study included 51 patients abovethe age of 50 years which were divided into 2 groups Group1, patients with localised infection (n= 39) and Group 2 withsystemic infection (n=12). Group 3 included 30 controlswithout any signs of infection and with total leucocyte countand differential counts within normal limits. Coulter LH 750cellular analysis system was used.Result: Significant increase in both mean neutrophil volume(MNV) and mean monocyte volume (MMV) was reportedamong the patients with sepsis as compared to localizedinfections or control. With a cut off of 145 and 170 for MNVand MMV respectively, a sensitivity of 96% and 91.4% wasobtained in predicting sepsis.Conclusion: Both MNV and MMV have the potential to beused as early indicators of acute bacterial infections.