Diagnostic Usefulness of Neutrophil / Lymphocyte Count Ratio in Gram Negative Bacterial Infection

Abstract

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Count ratio (NLCR) is used as a marker of subclinical inflammation. It is calculated by dividing the number of neutrophils by the number of lymphocytes counts which are measured in peripheral blood sample. The initial stages of severe infection may be characterised by increased neutrophils and decreased lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood sample. Hence during gram negative bacterial infection, NLCR may be useful to find out the degree of Infection and the type of bacteria involved.  There are no separate measurements required and the results available for CBC may be used to calculate NLCR. The objective of this study is to quantify the prognostic value of peripheral blood NLCR on clinical outcome in various types of bacterial infections in comparison with age and sex matched controls.