Al-Gwaiz and Babay correlated changes in neutrophils with the likelihood of a bacterial infection. The authors are from King Khalid University Hospital and King Saud University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Parameters:
(1) total white blood cell count (> 9.6 * 10^9/L)
(2) absolute neutrophil count (> 8.0 * 10^9/L)
(3) band forms (> 20% of the differential count)
(4) toxic granules
(5) Dohle bodies
(6) vacuoles
The most sensitive (80%) pattern for predicting bacterial infection was an elevated WBC count AND elevated ANC AND elevated band count AND morphologic changes.
The band percentage was 50% sensitive in infants and the elderly and with severe infections but only 32% for all patients.
Toxic granulations showed a sensitivity of 50% but seen in 78% of severe infections.
Vacuoles showed the lowest sensitivity.
The specificity of the findings was not discussed.
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