29 April 2008
C reactive protein (CRP) as a predictor for true bacteremia in children
Ron ShaoulADEF, Avishai LahadBC, Ada TamirC, Amos LanirB, Isaac SrugoAMed Sci Monit 2008; 14(5): CR255-261 :: ID: 855751
Abstract
Background
Despite the recent advances in methods for culturing bacteria, at least 24 hours are needed for most pathogens to be recognized. This period may be critical for the differentiation of a true bacteremia from a contaminated culture. We studied the value of CRP compared to total leukocytes (WBC) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) in differentiating positive, contaminated and negative blood cultures in various pediatric infectious diseases (pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis (AGE), urinary tract infection (UTI) and acute otitis media (AOM)).
Material and Method
Data was collected retrospectively from patients who were admitted or discharged from to the pediatric ward with one of the above diagnoses. Children with chronic diseases or with immunodeficiency were excluded from the study.
Results
CRP levels were significantly higher in the positive culture group versus contaminated and negative groups (101 mg/L, 30.9 mg/L, 34.3 mg/L, respectively). The total leukocytes and ANC were not of value. When divided into diagnostic subgroups, CRP levels were significantly higher in the positive blood culture groups in patients with pneumonia and AGE. The sensitivity of a CRP value above 85 mg/L for pneumonia and UTI and above 30 mg/L for AGE and AOM in discriminating true positive versus contaminated culture was 70% with a specificity of 67.6% and a positive predictive value of 60.3%.
Conclusions
CRP may be used for differentiation between positive and contaminated blood cultures in children and have been shown to be a better predictor than WBC or ANC for this purpose.
Keywords: Sensitivity and Specificity, Pneumonia - blood, Urinary Tract Infections - blood, Otitis Media - blood, Neutrophils - cytology, Leukocyte Count, Infant, Newborn, Gastroenteritis - blood, Child, Preschool, Child, C-Reactive Protein - physiology, Bacteremia - diagnosis, Adolescent
Editorial
01 January 2023 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Two Adjuvanted Malaria Vaccines and the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategy to Eradicate Malaria by 2030DOI: 10.12659/MSM.939357
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e939357
SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
26 January 2023 : Editorial
Editorial: The XBB.1.5 (‘Kraken’) Subvariant of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 and its Rapid Global SpreadMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.939580
19 January 2023 : Clinical Research
Evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life and Mental Health in 729 Medical Students in Indonesia During ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.938892
19 January 2023 : Clinical Research
Determining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Care in the Serbian Adult Population: An Online Q...Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e939238
27 December 2022 : Clinical Research
Effect of Physiotherapy to Correct Rounded Shoulder Posture in 30 Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic in ...Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e938926
In Press
31 Jan 2023 : Clinical Research
Balloon Dilation Eustachian Tuboplasty Combined with Tympanotomy Tube Insertion for Treatment of Refractory...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.938879
31 Jan 2023 : Clinical Research
Comparison of Vision Correction and Corneal Thickness at 180-Day Follow-Up After Femtosecond Laser-Assisted...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.939099
30 Jan 2023 : Clinical Research
Splenic Artery Steal Syndrome in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Retrospective Clinical StudyMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.938998
27 Jan 2023 : Database Analysis
Association Between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and All-Cause Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Chr...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.938554
Most Viewed Current Articles
13 Nov 2021 : Clinical Research
Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Associated Factors Among Cancer Patients Attending the Oncology ...DOI :10.12659/MSM.932788
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e932788
30 Dec 2021 : Clinical Research
Retrospective Study of Outcomes and Hospitalization Rates of Patients in Italy with a Confirmed Diagnosis o...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935379
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e935379
08 Mar 2022 : Review article
A Review of the Potential Roles of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacological Approaches for the Man...DOI :10.12659/MSM.936292
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e936292
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952