{
  "abstract": "Objective\n\nThe Haemoglobin-to-Red Cell Distribution Width ratio (Hb/RDW) is an emerging marker of inflammation and clinical risk, but its correlates in patients with bacterial bloodstream infections and kidney dysfunction remain poorly defined in low-resource settings. This study aimed to determine the clinical and laboratory correlates of the Hb/RDW ratio in patients with bacterial bloodstream infections and concomitant kidney dysfunction at Ndola Teaching Hospital, Ndola Zambia.Results\n\nA total of 136 patients were included, with a median age in the older adult range; 44.9% were ≥ 60 years. Females comprised 52.9% of the cohort. Gram-negative bacteria predominated, particularly Enterobacter agglomerans (19.8%) and Escherichia coli (10.2%), while Staphylococcus aureus (18.3%) was the most common Gram-positive isolate. Multidrug-resistant organisms accounted for 61.8% of infections, as determined by antimicrobial susceptibility testing and classified according to the standard consensus definition. In multivariable analysis, male sex was associated with lower Hb/RDW (β = -0.092, p = 0.020), and higher eGFR was associated with higher Hb/RDW (β = 0.003, p = 0.049). Other hematological and biochemical parameters showed no independent association. Hb/RDW was independently associated with sex and renal function, suggesting its potential as a simple biomarker. Further studies are needed to confirm its prognostic and clinical utility.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Cardiovascular Science and Metabolic Diseases, Livingstone Center for Prevention and Translational Science, Livingstone, 10101, Zambia. johnnzojoes@gmail.com.",
    "HAND Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mulungushi University, Livingstone, 10101, Zambia. johnnzojoes@gmail.com.",
    "Department of Cardiovascular Science and Metabolic Diseases, Livingstone Center for Prevention and Translational Science, Livingstone, 10101, Zambia.",
    "HAND Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mulungushi University, Livingstone, 10101, Zambia.",
    "Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chikankata College of Biomedical Sciences, Mazabuka, Zambia.",
    "School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Lusaka, Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia.",
    "Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ndola College of Biomedical Sciences, Ndola, Zambia.",
    "Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.",
    "Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "John Nzobokela",
      "orcid": "0009-0009-9687-2113"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "David Chisompola"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Jay Chibinga"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Kesaobaka Batisani"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Alick Mwambungu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3,
        7,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Sepiso K Masenga"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4zt9zcbnkd9ex.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s13104-026-07964-7",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13718057",
  "id": "4zt9zcbnkd9ex",
  "issns": [
    "1756-0500"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958350",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research Note"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2713|Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7172137832",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13718057?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13718057",
  "pmid": "42958350",
  "published": "2026-08-01",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4zt9zcbnkd9ex.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T00:20:47Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42958350",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958350"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-02T12:22:12Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13718057",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-026-07964-7"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2713|Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Clinical correlates of the Haemoglobin to Red Cell Distribution Width ratio in bacterial bloodstream infections and concomitant kidney dysfunction.",
  "title_text": "Clinical correlates of the Haemoglobin to Red Cell Distribution Width ratio in bacterial bloodstream infections and concomitant kidney dysfunction.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T12:22:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4zt9zcbnkd9ex",
  "venue": "BMC research notes",
  "versions": []
}