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Interleukin-6 ELISA in the Early Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis: Feasibility Within a Poor Setting in Bafoussam, Cameroon

Received: 23 May 2022    Accepted: 20 June 2022    Published: 30 June 2022
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Abstract

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in Cameroon. Diagnosis still relies heavily on the detection of C reactive protein (CRP) levels, whereas other biomarkers like interleukin 6 (IL-6), could improve the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in comparison to CRP. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of IL-6 ELISA as an early diagnostic tool within a Cameroonian context with the hope of its applicability in other poor income settings and in other diseases like COVID-19. Methods: We enrolled thirty-two (32) neonates equally distributed between a septic group (including infants with risk factors and clinical signs of sepsis) and a control group (infants without clinical signs of infections) in the study. We performed Full Blood Count, C-reactive protein and IL-6 ELISA on all blood samples. Thirty-five (35) medical personnel were interviewed in order to assess acceptability, practicality (cost and duration) and a limited-efficacy of IL-6 ELISA testing at the Bafoussam regional Hospital, Cameroon. Results: The mean age of participants was 2.81 days. IL-6 ELSIA showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 56.20%, 100%, 100% and 69.56% respectively while CRP was reported to be highly specific (81.25%). Despite a longer testing time of IL-6 ELISA compared to CRP (p = 0.0385), the IL-6 was acceptable (p = 0.008), affordable (p = 0.006) and could be promising for use within this poor setting. Conclusion: Though we did not see a strong correlation between its levels and the apparition of disease, IL-6 ELISA testing was feasible as a highly specific marker for an early diagnosis neonatal sepsis in Bafoussam, and could acceptably be used as an early diagnostic marker for other diseases like COVID-19 within that context.

Published in European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14
Page(s) 49-54
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Interleukin-6 ELISA, Early Diagnosis, Neonatal Sepsis, Feasibility

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Palmer Masumbe Netongo, Marie Christine Magne Nzuno, Severin Donald Kamdem, Desire Keptcheu, Armel Herve Nwabo Kamdje, et al. (2022). Interleukin-6 ELISA in the Early Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis: Feasibility Within a Poor Setting in Bafoussam, Cameroon. European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, 8(3), 49-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14

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    ACS Style

    Palmer Masumbe Netongo; Marie Christine Magne Nzuno; Severin Donald Kamdem; Desire Keptcheu; Armel Herve Nwabo Kamdje, et al. Interleukin-6 ELISA in the Early Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis: Feasibility Within a Poor Setting in Bafoussam, Cameroon. Eur. J. Clin. Biomed. Sci. 2022, 8(3), 49-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14

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    AMA Style

    Palmer Masumbe Netongo, Marie Christine Magne Nzuno, Severin Donald Kamdem, Desire Keptcheu, Armel Herve Nwabo Kamdje, et al. Interleukin-6 ELISA in the Early Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis: Feasibility Within a Poor Setting in Bafoussam, Cameroon. Eur J Clin Biomed Sci. 2022;8(3):49-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14,
      author = {Palmer Masumbe Netongo and Marie Christine Magne Nzuno and Severin Donald Kamdem and Desire Keptcheu and Armel Herve Nwabo Kamdje and Irene Ane Anyangwe},
      title = {Interleukin-6 ELISA in the Early Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis: Feasibility Within a Poor Setting in Bafoussam, Cameroon},
      journal = {European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences},
      volume = {8},
      number = {3},
      pages = {49-54},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejcbs.20220803.14},
      abstract = {Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in Cameroon. Diagnosis still relies heavily on the detection of C reactive protein (CRP) levels, whereas other biomarkers like interleukin 6 (IL-6), could improve the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in comparison to CRP. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of IL-6 ELISA as an early diagnostic tool within a Cameroonian context with the hope of its applicability in other poor income settings and in other diseases like COVID-19. Methods: We enrolled thirty-two (32) neonates equally distributed between a septic group (including infants with risk factors and clinical signs of sepsis) and a control group (infants without clinical signs of infections) in the study. We performed Full Blood Count, C-reactive protein and IL-6 ELISA on all blood samples. Thirty-five (35) medical personnel were interviewed in order to assess acceptability, practicality (cost and duration) and a limited-efficacy of IL-6 ELISA testing at the Bafoussam regional Hospital, Cameroon. Results: The mean age of participants was 2.81 days. IL-6 ELSIA showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 56.20%, 100%, 100% and 69.56% respectively while CRP was reported to be highly specific (81.25%). Despite a longer testing time of IL-6 ELISA compared to CRP (p = 0.0385), the IL-6 was acceptable (p = 0.008), affordable (p = 0.006) and could be promising for use within this poor setting. Conclusion: Though we did not see a strong correlation between its levels and the apparition of disease, IL-6 ELISA testing was feasible as a highly specific marker for an early diagnosis neonatal sepsis in Bafoussam, and could acceptably be used as an early diagnostic marker for other diseases like COVID-19 within that context.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Interleukin-6 ELISA in the Early Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis: Feasibility Within a Poor Setting in Bafoussam, Cameroon
    AU  - Palmer Masumbe Netongo
    AU  - Marie Christine Magne Nzuno
    AU  - Severin Donald Kamdem
    AU  - Desire Keptcheu
    AU  - Armel Herve Nwabo Kamdje
    AU  - Irene Ane Anyangwe
    Y1  - 2022/06/30
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14
    T2  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    JF  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    JO  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    SP  - 49
    EP  - 54
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5005
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20220803.14
    AB  - Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in Cameroon. Diagnosis still relies heavily on the detection of C reactive protein (CRP) levels, whereas other biomarkers like interleukin 6 (IL-6), could improve the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in comparison to CRP. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of IL-6 ELISA as an early diagnostic tool within a Cameroonian context with the hope of its applicability in other poor income settings and in other diseases like COVID-19. Methods: We enrolled thirty-two (32) neonates equally distributed between a septic group (including infants with risk factors and clinical signs of sepsis) and a control group (infants without clinical signs of infections) in the study. We performed Full Blood Count, C-reactive protein and IL-6 ELISA on all blood samples. Thirty-five (35) medical personnel were interviewed in order to assess acceptability, practicality (cost and duration) and a limited-efficacy of IL-6 ELISA testing at the Bafoussam regional Hospital, Cameroon. Results: The mean age of participants was 2.81 days. IL-6 ELSIA showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 56.20%, 100%, 100% and 69.56% respectively while CRP was reported to be highly specific (81.25%). Despite a longer testing time of IL-6 ELISA compared to CRP (p = 0.0385), the IL-6 was acceptable (p = 0.008), affordable (p = 0.006) and could be promising for use within this poor setting. Conclusion: Though we did not see a strong correlation between its levels and the apparition of disease, IL-6 ELISA testing was feasible as a highly specific marker for an early diagnosis neonatal sepsis in Bafoussam, and could acceptably be used as an early diagnostic marker for other diseases like COVID-19 within that context.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, The Biotechnology Centre-University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, The Biotechnology Centre-University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, The Biotechnology Centre-University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Laboratory Department, Bafoussam Regional Hospital, Bafoussam, Cameroon

  • Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

  • School of Science - Biology Program, Navajo Technical University, Crownpoint, USA

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