Fig. 4

A workflow for quick identification of grade 4–5 infection during the first 30 days after CTI. Whenever patients had fever during the first 30 days after CTI, IL-6, ferritin, IL-8, IL-1β, IFN-γ and blood culture needed to be dynamically monitored during CAR T-cell therapy to distinguish CRS and severe infection. By means of the “double peaks of IL-6” plus the prediction model, we could tentatively diagnose grade 4–5 infection and immediately initiate enhanced antibiotic therapy. Bacterial culture would establish final diagnosis of bacterial infection