Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) and interleukin (IL)‐8 in sera from patients with Staphylococcus aureus septicemia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the concentrations of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) and interleukin (IL)‐8 in sera from patients with Staphylococcus aureus septicemia and to correlate the results to peripheral neutrophil counts and the clinical outcome. Methods: Serum samples from 64 consecutive patients with S. aureus septicemia were sequentially collected in a prospective study. Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) serum G‐CSF value on admission was 348 ± 830 with a range of 8 to 5400 pg/mL. G‐CSF concentrations were elevated (> 76 pg/mL) in 38/64 patients (59%) as were serum IL‐8 concentrations (> 67 pg/mL) in 23/64 patients (36%) on admission. The mean ± SD IL‐8 value was 266 ± 422 pg/mL with a range of 2 to 1366 pg/mL. A correlation was found between serum IL‐8 and white blood cell count on admission (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Patients with uncomplicated septicemia frequently have elevated G‐CSF values (84%) in comparison to patients with complicated septicemia (49%; p = 0.02), indicating a possible protective effect of G‐CSF in septic complications. 1995 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases