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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