CRP and Sepsis: In particular, CRP elevation predicted rapidly evolving culture-negative sepsis, whereas decreased leukocyte counts predicted longer hospital stay; in accord with previous observations (32), lactate elevation predicted ICU transfer; and, most remarkably, ferritin elevation along with increased leukocyte counts were predictive of MDR+ sepsis, while further ferritin elevation along with decreased platelet counts were highly predictive of in-hospital mortality.