Differentiation of culture positive sepsis and culture negative sepsis in adult cardiac surgery patient using biomarkers

Sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome are common complications following adult cardiac surgery and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Differentiating culture-positive sepsis from culture-negative sepsis in the early postoperative period is clinically challenging, often leading to empirical use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

This prospective Observational Study aims to evaluate the role of of a panel of inflammatory biomarkers in differentiating culture-positive sepsis from culture-negative sepsis in adult patients undergoing off-pump cardiac surgery. Blood samples will be collected at predefined time points before surgery and during the postoperative period for biomarker analysis. Biomarker levels will be compared between patients with culture-positive and culture-negative sepsis and correlated with established clinical risk scores and outcomes.

The findings of this study may help in early identification of infection related sepsis, improve risk stratification, and support rational antibiotic use in the postoperative cardiac surgical population.