Premium
Monitoring skin temperature at the wrist in hospitalised patients may assist in the detection of infection
Author(s) -
Holt Stephen G.,
Yo Jennifer H.,
Karschimkus Connie,
Volpato Frank,
Christov Steve,
Smith Edward R.,
Hewitson Tim D.,
Worth Leon J.,
Champion De Crespigny Paul
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.14748
Subject(s) - medicine , receiver operating characteristic , wrist , prospective cohort study , antibiotics , nephrology , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Background Measuring temperature has always been a key observation in the diagnosis of infection. No studies have examined the usefulness of measuring temperature at the wrist to detect infection. Aim We sought to determine whether a watch measuring wrist temperature could accurately identify patients who are infected. Methods Prospective cross‐sectional pilot study of temperature monitoring in an unselected patients in a tertiary referral adult nephrology unit. Results One hundred and four data recording sessions revealed 88 useful data sets, with recording failures in the others. Patients were retrospectively classified as having no infection (Group A, n = 60), clinically diagnosed infection with less than 24 h of treatment with antibiotics (Group B, n = 5), and clinically diagnosed infection with greater than 24 h on antibiotics (Group C, n = 23). There was a significantly higher average maximum temperature in Group B (mean (SEM)) 38°C (0.6) compared with Groups A (36.1°C (0.1)) and C (36.3°C (0.3)). Based on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) a cut‐off temperature of ≥37.5°C gave sensitivity 80% and specificity 98%. Mean electrodermal activity was significantly higher in Groups B and C. Conclusions ROC of peripheral skin temperature measurements suggest that such a device may identify many patients requiring treatment for infection. This proof of principle study showed value in using a wearable device in the detection of infection and its potential as an early warning or monitoring device.