Year: 1998
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: To document the relationships between procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and leucocyte count (WCC) in children with sepsis, and to compare their diagnostic value in septic shock. PCT, CRP and WCC were measured on admission to the PICU in 146 children, median age 18 months (range 0.1-202), mortality 22/146 (15%). PCT was measured by immunoluminometric assay (BRAHMS Diagnostika, Berlin, Germany). Patients were categorized a priori according to clinical and laboratory data as having either septic shock ( n = 51) [ 1 ], localized bacterial infection ( n = 33), viral infection ( n = 14) or as non-infected controls ( n = 48). Data were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Dunn's test for multiple comparisons. PCT was significantly higher in septic patients compared to localized infection, viral infection and controls respectively (all P < 0.001). Receiver operating curve analysis indicates PCT > 20 ng/ml as the best discriminator of septic shock with positive and negative predictive values of 87% and 89%. In contrast, CRP > 35 mg/l had positive and negative predictive values of 65% and 83%. Procalcitonin is a better discriminator of systemic from localized bacterial infection than either CRP or leucocyte count.
Source: Critical Care
DOI: 10.1186/cc167
Authors: M Hatherill, SM Tibby, A Mclntyre, IA Murdoch
Institution: Guy's Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,190
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
OpenAlex ID: W2055873169