LAUSR

Key Points Question Can a whole-blood RNA transcriptomic metric (IMX) obtained in the first 12 hours after intensive care unit (ICU) admission accurately measure the presence of bacterial infection and risk for sepsis mortality? Findings In this diagnostic and prognostic study including 200 patients with critical illness enrolled from a surgical ICU, the IMX transcriptomic metric was equivalent to or significantly better than the sequential organ failure assessment score and existing biomarkers (procalcitonin and interleukin 6 levels) for the diagnosis of acute infections and estimation of 30-day mortality. Meaning These findings suggest that a single, rapid-turnaround, multivalent transcriptomic test could supplant existing metrics in identifying bacterial infection and estimating clinical outcomes among critically ill surgical patients.