Combination value of cell index, CSF PCT, and CSF IL-6 for intracranial infection diagnosis after neurosurgery

This study evaluated the predictive value of cell index (CI), cerebrospinal fluid procalcitonin (CSF PCT), and cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 (CSF IL-6) for detecting intracranial infection after neurosurgery. A two-center, prospective study analyzed CSF samples from ICU patients suspected of having intracranial infection following neurosurgery from January 2020 to June 2023. Patients with infection had longer operation times and longer stays in the ICU. The AUCs for single biomarkers ranged from 0.829 to 0.860, with the highest AUC of 0.938 observed for the combined biomarkers CI + CSF PCT + CSF IL-6. CI was most effective in patients with elevated CSF RBC counts, and PCT was most effective for detecting Gram-negative infections. The combined use of these biomarkers enhances early diagnosis of intracranial infection after neurosurgery and warrants further study.