A recent study presented at the ESCMID Global 2025 conference has identified a faster and more reliable way to detect sepsis early in vulnerable groups like newborns, young children, and pregnant women. The research focused on interleukin-6 (IL-6), a substance the body releases during infections, and found it to be a highly accurate indicator of bacterial sepsis when tested in real-world clinical settings.

This study is the first to examine IL-6 across all three high-risk groups at once, using blood samples from 252 patients — including 111 children, 72 pregnant women, and 69 newborns. It was led by Dr Seán Whelan at Rotunda Hospital and Children’s Health Ireland.

Sepsis — a serious and often fatal reaction to infection — is responsible for approximately 11 million deaths globally each year, according to a 2020 Lancet study. Young children and pregnant women are more susceptible due to underdeveloped or altered immune systems. But spotting sepsis early remains a major challenge, especially since its early symptoms can look like many other illnesses.

Current tests rely on markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), which respond slowly to infection and are often too late to guide urgent treatment. In comparison, IL-6 reacts much earlier. “IL-6 levels begin to rise within 1–2 hours, peak around 6 hours, and drop after 24 hours,” explained Dr Whelan. “That’s a significant advantage over CRP and PCT, which can take up to 48 hours to peak.”

To measure IL-6’s performance, researchers used a method called the AUROC curve, which assesses how well a test can distinguish between infected and non-infected individuals. A score of 1.0 indicates perfect accuracy. IL-6 scored 0.91 in children, 0.94 in pregnant women, and 0.86 in newborns — much higher than current diagnostic tools.

In terms of sensitivity — how well the test identifies those who are actually infected — IL-6 performed best in pregnant women (94%) and children (91%). It was slightly less sensitive in newborns (67.6%), though it maintained high accuracy in ruling out infection (specificity: 97.1%). Experts believe this gap reflects the difficulty of defining and diagnosing sepsis in newborns, where symptoms vary widely and no global consensus exists.

This discovery is especially relevant for India, which carries a heavy burden of sepsis-related deaths, particularly among newborns. A 2021 Journal of Global Health review found that neonatal sepsis accounts for nearly 15% of all infant deaths in the country.

In rural regions, the problem is worse. A 2023 AIIMS study reported that the average delay in identifying sepsis in newborns was 36 hours — often too late to begin effective treatment. Factors such as home births, poor access to healthcare, and limited lab facilities contribute to this deadly delay.

Widespread use of IL-6 testing could help bridge that gap. However, it’s currently limited to large hospitals. Rolling out IL-6 testing in primary healthcare centers — especially under India’s national maternal and child health programs — would require investments in infrastructure, training, and affordability.

This study brings hopeful news for sepsis care. IL-6 isn’t a perfect solution, but it is a significant step forward. In a country like India, where early detection can mean the difference between life and death, making IL-6 testing accessible and affordable could save countless lives. Policymakers must now consider how to incorporate this scientific advancement into routine care — not just in urban hospitals but at the grassroots level.