In this small single institution study of 159 bacteremic patients, all of which had troponin I sent, 43% were elevated (abstract). Most were minor elevations (96% < 1mcg/L). Not surprisingly, independent risk factors for troponin elevations included renal insufficiency, higher WBC, and septic shock. Troponin elevations were not significantly associated with EKG changes (although not performed in all patients), and did not independently predict mortality. For bacteremic patients, if you check troponin, there is about a coin-toss chance it will be elevated, but given the lack of association with EKG changes or mortality, there is no clear benefit of routinely checking it in the first place.
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October 31, 2008 |
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About the Author: Danielle Scheurer
Danielle Scheurer, MD, MSCR, SFHM is a clinical hospitalist and the Chief Quality Officer at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, where she also serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, completed her residency at Duke University, and completed her Masters in Clinical Research at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is also the President of SHM's Board of Directors and previously served as Physician Editor of The Hospitalist, SHM's monthly newsmagazine.
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