Enhancing early diagnosis and monitoring of wound infections caused by multiple bacteria in tissues through digital PCR integration with cutaneous infection biomarkers.

Abstract

Background: This study explores the potential of combining digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with cutaneous infection biomarkers for the early diagnosis and monitoring of wound infections caused by multiple bacteria.

Methods: We selected a cohort of 276 patients with wounds who were admitted to our hospital from July 2022 to July 2023. These patients were categorized into 46 infection cases and 230 non-infection cases based on clinical evaluation. Clinical data, including routine blood tests [Red Blood Cell count (RBC), Hemoglobin (Hb), White Blood Cell count (WBC), Platelets (PLT)], D-dimer (D-D), and blood biochemistry parameters (liver function, lipid profile, blood glucose, renal function), were collected from both groups. Bacterial cultures were obtained from the infection group, and digital PCR targeting multiple bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) was performed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for wound infection, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess the diagnostic performance of digital PCR in conjunction with cutaneous infection biomarkers.

Results: No significant differences were observed between the infection and non-infection groups regarding age, gender, body mass index (BMI), or wound characteristics (P > 0.05). However, the infection group exhibited significantly higher levels of RBC, Hb, WBC, PLT, and D-D (P < 0.05). Key factors influencing wound infections included WBC, PLT, glycosylated hemoglobin, and the specific bacteria identified. ROC curve analysis revealed area under the curve (AUC) values for individual markers, with a combined AUC of 0.899, demonstrating excellent diagnostic performance.

Conclusion: Digital PCR, when combined with cutaneous infection biomarkers, proves to be an effective diagnostic tool for wound infections. This approach shows great promise in clinical applications, with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes.