[Procalcitonin in pediatric emergencies: comparison with C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and interferon alpha in the differentiation between bacterial and viral infections]. / Procalcitonine aux urgences pédiatriques. Comparaison avec la protéine C-réactive, l'interleukine-6 et l'interféron-alpha pour la différenciation des infections bactériennes et virales.
Presse Med
; 29(3): 128-34, 2000 Jan 29.
Article
in Fr
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10686961
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Procalcitonin concentration increases in bacterial infections but remains low in viral infections and inflammatory diseases. The change is rapid and the molecule is stable making it a potentially useful marker for distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
Procalcitonin (PCT) was determined with an immunoluminometric assay on plasma collected at admission in 436 infants and children hospitalized for bacterial or viral infection. It was compared with C reactive protein, interleukin-6 and interferon-alpha measured on the same sample.RESULTS:
PCT was 41.3 +/- 77.4 micrograms/l in children with septicemia or bacterial meningitis (n = 53), 0.39 +/- 0.57 microgram/l in children with viral infection (n = 274) and 3.9 +/- 5.9 micrograms/l in children with a localized bacterial infection who had a negative blood culture (n = 109). PCT was > 1 microgram/l in 126 children with a localized or systemic bacterial infection (sensitivity 78%). PCT was < 1 microgram/l in 258 children with a viral infection (specificity 94%). For differenciation between viral and bacterial infections, CRP value > or = 20 mg/l, IL-6 > 100 pg/ml and interferon-alpha > 0 Ul/ml have 85, 48 and 76% sensitivity and 73, 85 and 92% specificity respectively.CONCLUSIONS:
In this study, a PCT value of 1 microgram/l or greater had better specificity, sensitivity and predictive value than CRP, IL-6 and interferon-alpha in children for distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections. PCT may be useful in pediatric emergency room for making decision about antibiotic treatments.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Protein Precursors
/
Bacterial Infections
/
Virus Diseases
/
C-Reactive Protein
/
Calcitonin
/
Glycoproteins
/
Interleukin-6
/
Interferon-alpha
/
Inflammation
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
Language:
Fr
Journal:
Presse Med
Year:
2000
Type:
Article