Lin MF, Sun B, Liu ZY, et al. - Researchers aimed to evaluate the diagnostic values of traditional inflammatory biomarkers (PCT, WBC and NEU%) in detecting patients with intracellular bacterial bloodstream infections (Intra-bac BSIs). In addition, they examined if suPAR and sCD14-ST could serve as novel biomarkers for Intra-bac BSIs. In this multi-center retrospective study, enrollment of a total of 146 cases with BSIs, including 73 cases with Intra-bac BSIs and 73 cases with extracellular bacterial BSIs (Extra-bac BSIs), was performed. In addition, they prospectively recruited 34 patients with Intra-bac BSIs, 34 patients with Extra-bac BSIs, 34 patients with viral infection and with normal medical examination results as a control group for further detection of sCD14-ST and suPAR by ELISA. Outcomes do not support the value of PCT, WBC counts, NEU% as promising diagnostic markers for Intra-bac BSIs. They support the utility of CRP in guiding the diagnosis of Intra-bac BSIs. Patients with BSIs showed elevated plasma suPAR and sCD14-ST levels. For Intra-bac BSI, consideration can be given to both suPAR and sCD14-ST as novel diagnostic biomarkers.