Infection is often difficult to recognize in critically ill patients because of the marked coexisting inflammatory process. Lack of early recognition prevents timely resuscitation and effective antimicrobial therapy, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Measurement of a biomarker, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, in addition to history and physical signs, could facilitate diagnosis. Although frequently measured in clinical practice, few studies have reported on the pathophysiological role of this biomarker and its predictive value in critically ill patients. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiological role of CRP and its potential interpretation in the inflammatory processes observed in critically ill patients.

IntroductionMottling score, defined by 5 areas over the knee is developed to evaluate tissue perfusion at bedside. Because of the subjective aspect of the score, we aimed to compare mottling score and skin temperature in septic shock with infrared thermography in ICU and the correlation to survival.MethodsWe conducted a prospective and observational study in a teaching hospital in France during 8 months in ICU. All patients with sepsis requiring vasoactive drugs were included. We recorded epidemiologic data, hemodynamic parameters, mottling score and skin temperature with a thermic camera of the 5 mottling areas around the knee (temperatures recorded with FLIR™ software) at bedside. Measures were performed at ICU admission (H0) and six hours after initial resuscitation (H6).Results46 patients were included. Median age was 69 (60–78), SOFA score 11 (8–12) mean SAPS II was 57±20 and 28-day mortality rate was 30%. Patients with mottling (score≥1), had a skin temperature of the knee significantly lower (30.7 vs 33,2°C p = 0.01 at H6) than patients without mottling (score = 0). Skin temperatures of the knee in mottling groups 1 to 5 were similar at H0 and H6. Neither mottling score nor skin temperature of the knee were associated with prognostic regarding day-28 mortality.ConclusionsSkin temperature measured with infrared thermography technology around the knee is lower when mottling sign is present and sign microcirculation alterations. This method, compared to standard mottling score is objective and allows data collections. However, this method failed to predict mortality in ICU patients.