Association of Neutrophil- Lymphocyte Count Ratio and Microbial Infection in Hospitalized Patients

Microbial infection is one of leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Bacteremia that result from microbial infection has mortality rate as high as 30% . Systemic infections that result from microbial infection is a generalized disease that progresses rapidly and can lead to high mortality. This infection sets in from a progression of various pathogenic microorganisms that enter the bloodstream, reproduce and then release toxins and metabolites . Early diagnosis of microbial infection is essential for treatment. Culturing microorganisms is the most definitive way to confirm bacterial infections. Unfortunately, this gold standard is time consuming and may take from 24 to 48 hours and sometimes up to a week. A number of rapid initial indicators of microbial infection have been proposed, including C-reactive protein, neutrophil count, and white blood cell count. However, these criteria do not always reliably distinguish between severe bacterial, fungal, and viral infections . Therefore, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLCR), a simple ratio between the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes measured in peripheral blood, has been proposed as a biomarker that combines two aspects of the immune system: the innate immune response, which is mainly driven by neutrophils, and adaptive immunity, supported by lymphocytes . This study aims to determine the diagnostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLCR) as an indicator of microbial infection, using complete blood count to determine the ratio in addition to culture and sensitivity according to the site of infection.

the aim of this study is to Investigating the association between neutrophil-lymphocyte count and the presence of microbial infection in the hospitalized patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Microbial Infection

Detailed Description

Microbial infection is one of leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Bacteremia that result from microbial infection has mortality rate as high as 30% . Systemic infections that result from microbial infection is a generalized disease that progresses rapidly and can lead to high mortality. This infection sets in from a progression of various pathogenic microorganisms that enter the bloodstream, reproduce and then release toxins and metabolites . Early diagnosis of microbial infection is essential for treatment. Culturing microorganisms is the most definitive way to confirm bacterial infections. Unfortunately, this gold standard is time consuming and may take from 24 to 48 hours and sometimes up to a week. A number of rapid initial indicators of microbial infection have been proposed, including C-reactive protein, neutrophil count, and white blood cell count. However, these criteria do not always reliably distinguish between severe bacterial, fungal, and viral infections . Therefore, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLCR), a simple ratio between the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes measured in peripheral blood, has been proposed as a biomarker that combines two aspects of the immune system: the innate immune response, which is mainly driven by neutrophils, and adaptive immunity, supported by lymphocytes . This study aims to determine the diagnostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLCR) as an indicator of microbial infection, using complete blood count to determine the ratio in addition to culture and sensitivity according to the site of infection.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Asmaa Hamed Abdelwahed Mohamed, residant doctor; Phone Number: +201019844307; Email: asmaa26hamed@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

All cases diagnosed with microbial infections at Assiut university hospitals.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• age more than 18 years old
• both sex
• conformed diagnosis with micorbial infection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Immunodeficiency patients

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
microbial infections cases; All cases diagnosed with microbial infections at Assiut university hospitals

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio	neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio in the hospitalized patients with microbial infection	baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assiut University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 30, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: neutrophil- lymphocyte count ratio
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Infections; Communicable Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: N-L count ratio microbial inf

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No