Mechanisms of Precise Immune Cell Phenotyping and Prognostic Prediction in Severe Infection

This study is a prospective observational cohort study conducted in adult patients with severe infection who are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The study aims to characterize dynamic changes in immune cell profiles during critical illness and to examine how these changes are associated with short-term clinical outcomes.

Severe infection, including sepsis, is frequently accompanied by profound alterations in immune function. While some individuals recover, others develop persistent organ dysfunction or die despite standard medical care. Current clinical and laboratory markers provide limited information about immune status and do not reliably predict outcomes. A more detailed understanding of immune cell patterns in critically ill patients may help improve risk stratification and future clinical decision-making.

Adult patients (aged 18 years or older) who are diagnosed with severe infection according to established clinical criteria and admitted to the ICU will be screened for eligibility. Participants will be enrolled consecutively after informed consent is obtained from the patient or a legally authorized representative. This study does not involve any experimental intervention, and all participants will receive standard medical care as determined by their treating clinicians.

Peripheral blood samples will be collected at predefined time points during the ICU stay, including early and later phases of illness. These samples will be used to assess immune cell populations and their activation states using established laboratory methods. In addition, routinely collected clinical data will be recorded, including demographic information, severity of illness scores, laboratory test results, organ support measures, and clinical outcomes.

The primary clinical outcome of interest is all-cause mortality within 28 days after ICU admission. Secondary outcomes include the development of organ dysfunction and length of ICU stay. Immune cell data will be analyzed in relation to these outcomes to identify immune patterns that are associated with different clinical trajectories.

Statistical analyses will focus on describing immune cell distributions, identifying immune phenotypes using data-driven approaches, and evaluating associations between immune patterns and clinical outcomes while accounting for relevant clinical variables. The results of this study are intended to improve understanding of immune alterations in severe infection and to inform future research aimed at improving prognosis assessment and patient management.

All data will be collected and stored in accordance with ethical and regulatory requirements. Participant confidentiality will be maintained through coded identifiers, and access to identifiable information will be restricted to authorized study personnel.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 18 years or older
• Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU)
• Diagnosis of severe infection, including sepsis, based on established clinical criteria
• Enrollment within the early phase of ICU admission
• Informed consent obtained from the patient or a legally authorized representative

Exclusion criteria

• Age younger than 18 years
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Known history of hematologic malignancy or active solid malignancy receiving chemotherapy
• Known primary immunodeficiency or long-term immunosuppressive therapy prior to ICU admission
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with severe immunosuppression
• Previous enrollment in this study
• Refusal or inability to provide informed consent