An observational study in Bacteremia, Bacteremia Sepsis and Sepsis, sponsored by Henry Ford Health System. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-12.
Sponsored by Henry Ford Health System · Observational
This project will evaluate the usefulness of Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) for the diagnosis of blood culture positivity (BSI) in patients in the Emergency Department (ED) and reevaluate the usefulness of MDW in patients with BSI and sepsis. Consequently, if MDW indicate a high likelihood of bacteremia antibiotic management in patients with suspected bacterial infections will be changed and aid appropriate antibiotic administration.
BIOMARKERS for Sepsis and Infection should address important clinical aspects such as
Review of MDW values for ED patients who have positive blood cultures The gold standard for the diagnosis of bloodstream infections is positive blood cultures. Not all patients with sepsis have positive blood cultures, however patients with blood stream infections and end-organ dysfunction are septic and need to be treated with antibiotics. Two definitions of sepsis currently are used.
The sepsis-2 definitions [1,2] are based on a confirmed or suspected infectious source, a systemic response with two or more abnormal systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria such as hyper or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnea and leukopenia or leukocytosis or bandemia and signs of at least one new end organ dysfunction. There is a differentiation between different degrees of disease severity between sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. Each of these degrees of illness severity are associated with different morbidity and mortality.
The sepsis-3 definition [3] state that sepsis is the bodies response to an infectious agent. The response is assessed using a quick SOFA score (qSOFA) assessment based on tachypnea of equal or greater than 22 breath, systolic hypotension of equal or less than 100 mmHg and changes in mentation measured by a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of less than 15 along with the requirement of a new onset of organ dysfunction as measured by a SOFA score of equal or greater than 2.[4] Sepsis-3 definition distinguish between sepsis and septic shock only. Septic shock is only present if a patient has 2 or more qSOFA criteria, requires the use of a vasoactive agent to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure of 70 mmHg AND if the lactate is greater than 2 mg/dL. Patients which do not have a qSOFA score of greater than 2 or a SOFA score of less than 2 are considered not septic and as having only a local infection.
Both definitions have the requirement for a proven or suspected infection. Source identification is important, however not always successful. The most common site of infection is the lung. This infection is most commonly viral or bacterial. The second most common site of infection is the genitourinary tract followed by blood stream infections. The diagnosis of blood stream infections (BSI) can be affected by a variety of factors including the collection technique to avoid contamination, the amount of blood volume collected, the timing of collection among other factors. Specifically, the early recognition of blood culture positivity and appropriate early source control are essential for successful treatment of patients with signs of a systemic response to the blood stream infection and end-organ dysfunction. Delay in recognition of blood culture positivity can lead to treatment delays along with possible disease progression.
Studies evaluated the usefulness of monocyte distribution width (MDW) for the assessment of emergency department patients with sepsis. It has been observed that monocyte activation in response to bacteremia leads to increased monocyte size. [5] MDW reflects a measure of a change in the size distribution of circulating monocytes. MDW has been evaluated for the aid of sepsis based on the definitions above. [6] The study by Crouser showed that the detection diagnosis of sepsis within 12 hours of ED presentation was aided when MDW was added. Similar, Polili et al found that the addition of MDW to the routine White Blood Cell (WBC) counts aids sepsis diagnosis and may be more useful than procalcitonin. [7]
It has not yet clearly established that MDW are elevated in bloodstream infections (BSI). BSI are diagnosed using blood cultures as gold standard for diagnosis. Blood cultures have a high sensitivity and specificity.[8] Up to thirty forty percent of septic shock patients will be blood culture positive and up to 25-30% negative for any type of culture. However, the diagnosis can take time delaying initiation of appropriate treatment. Additionally, in up to 50 % of cases BSI may be present without blood culture positivity due to the presence of uncultivable organisms or antibiotic treatment started prior to sampling.[9] MDW may be useful in not only aiding the diagnosis of sepsis but also in the expedited diagnosis of BSI.
This project will evaluate the usefulness of MDW for the diagnosis of blood culture positivity (BSI) in patients in the ED and reevaluate the usefulness of MDW in patients with BSI and sepsis. Consequently, if MDW indicate a high likelihood of bacteremia; antibiotic management in patients with suspected bacterial infections will be changed and aid appropriate antibiotic administration. On the other hand, a negative MDW test in the ED without additional risk factors or signs of infection (ie. Urinary tract, pneumonia, skin) or suspected severe sepsis or septic shock, patients may be treated supportively without use of antibiotics in the appropriate clinical setting.
322 studies on the registry are indexed under Bacteremia; 49 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50,000 is above the median of 269 across 133 observational studies indexed under Bacteremia.
Browse Bacteremia studies →Henry Ford Health System is the lead sponsor of 293 studies on the registry; 50 are open to participants now.
Of its 35 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 23 (66%) have results posted.
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All Emergency Department patients older than 18 years with blood culture orders and blood culture blood draws.
Exclusion Criteria:
No intervention Monocyte Distribution Width considered normal (MDW less than 20 IU) in Emergency Department patients with Positive Blood Cultures. We will evaluate associated factors with this observation.
Diagnostic Test: Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) , observation
No intervention Monocyte Distribution Width considered abnormal (MDW equal or greater than 20 IU) in Emergency Department patients with Positive Blood Cultures. We will evaluate associated factors with this observation.
Diagnostic Test: Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) , observation
No intervention Monocyte Distribution Width considered normal (MDW less than 20 IU) in Emergency Department patients with negative Blood Cultures. We will evaluate associated factors with this observation.
Diagnostic Test: Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) , observation
No intervention Monocyte Distribution Width considered abnormal (MDW equal or greater than 20 IU) in Emergency Department patients with negative Blood Cultures. We will evaluate associated factors with this observation.
Diagnostic Test: Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) , observation
Observation of MDW performance blinded to treating clinical teams
Observed Sensitivity and Specificity of MDW >/= 20 U in Emergency Department Patients with Positive Blood Cultures
Time frame: 09/2020 to 02/2023
Determine the negative predicative value of MDW assessments in Emergency Department patients at a cutoff threshold of <20 U in patients with negative blood cultures.
Time frame: 09/2020 to 02/2023
Exploratory Aim 1 Explore the sensitivity and specificity of MDW measurement in samples excluded due to the consideration of contaminated blood culture. Contaminants could be considered for BSI with skin flora or singular positive blood cultures.
Time frame: 09/2020 to 02/2023
Exploratory Aim 2 Explore the sensitivity and specificity of MDW measurement in samples excluded due to use of antibiotics prior to the documented blood culture blood draw.
Time frame: 09/2020 to 02/2023
Exploratory Aim 3a Explore changes in size of MDW from ED presentation to the last available measurement prior to discharge as sign of resolution of infection or sepsis/ measurement of treatment response.
When follow-up cultures are available the corresponding CBC MDW value should be below the cut-off of 20 U or at least 10 % reduced compared to when the blood cultures were positive. Chart review will be done to also evaluate the possibility of undiagnosed or nosocomial bacterial or viral co-infections such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, abdominal infections as possible cause for continued elevated MDW. If MDW normalize in size and signs of infection are reduced this marker could be used to guide appropriate antibiotic therapy and early discontinuation of unnecessary antibiotic usage. This could lead to improved treatment strategies and reductions in emerging antibiotic resistance. If available, serial procalcitonin levels will be correlated with MDW values.
Time frame: 09/2020 to 02/2023
Exploratory Aim 3b Explore variations in MDW size on presentation based on reported symptom duration in Emergency Department patients.
Time frame: 09/2020 to 02/2023
Exploratory Aim 4 Explore the value of MDW size at the time of hospital discharge is predictive for hospital readmission at day 28, day 30 or day 90 independent of infective cause.
Time frame: 09/2020 to 02/2023
Exploratory Aim 5 Explore if MDW values are predictive SARS-CoV2 test or the need of admission for COVID-19 or influenza A/ B infection.
Time frame: 09/2020 to 02/2023
Plan to share: No — We will not share individual subject data for privacy reasons. We plan to share aggregate data.
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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