Blood DdPCR for Early Identification and Dynamic Surveillance of Pathogenic Bacteria in ICU Septic Patients: a Single-centre, Prospective, Observational Study

Blood DdPCR for Early Identification and Dynamic Surveillance of Pathogenic Bacteria in ICU Septic Patients: a Single-centre, Prospective, Observational Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in identifying pathogenic organisms in ICU sepsis patients, aiming to find a method that allows early identification of pathogenic organisms and dynamic surveillance in order to assess the association between pathogenic species and loads and clinical characteristics and outcomes.

This is a monocentric observational study. Patients admitted to the ICU with a first diagnosis of sepsis will be dynamically monitored for nucleic acid loads of pathogenic bacteria in the blood using ddPCR at different time points until the last blood sample is taken on day 28-30 or the patient is discharged from the ICU.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with first diagnosis of sepsis after ICU admission

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age under 18 years
• Do not meet Sepsis 3.0 diagnostic criteria
• Refusal to sign informed consent