Elevated Levels of Interferon Gamma, Interleukin-4, Neutrophil-lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-lymphocyte Ratio as Biomarkers of Post-surgical Wound Infections amongst Female Patients in Nnewi, Nigeria

Post-surgical wound infections (PSWI) remain a significant concern in post-operative care, potentially leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and compromised patient outcome. The study aimed at evaluating the levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and haematological parameters amongst female patients with PSWI in Nnewi, Nigeria. A total of 50 females participated in the study which included twenty five (25) female individuals with confirmed cases of PSWI which served as the test group and twenty five (25) apparently healthy female individuals which served as the control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method were used to measure the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4, and automated hematology analyzers were used to measure the hematological parameters which included mean cell volume (MVC), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MHC), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). A statistical analysis showed that individuals with PSWI had significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 compared with the control group (p=0.01). Significant changes in FBC parameters were also noted, including increased MCH (p=0.02), MCHC (p=0.03), NLR (p=0.00), and PLR (p=0.03) compared to control group. These results highlight the possible roles that hematological disturbances, IFN-γ and IL-4 dysregulation may play in the development and severity of PSWI in female patients. The observed excessive inflammatory response may impede infection resolution, which may help to explain in part, the poor treatment outcome in patients with PSWI.