• C Chiesa, L Pacifico, N Rossi, A Panero, M Matrunola, and G Mancuso.
• Institute of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome-Institute of Experimental Medicine CNR, 00161-Rome, Italy. PACIFICO@UNIROMA1.it
• Intensive Care Med. 2000 Mar 1;26 Suppl 2:S175-7.

ObjectiveTo determine accuracy of procalcitonin concentrations for diagnosing nosocomial infections in critically ill neonates.DesignCase-control study.SettingNeonatal intensive care unit of a teaching hospital.PatientsTwenty-three neonates with nosocomial infection. Four controls matched for duration of hospital stay and birth date were chosen for each case patient.Measurements And ResultsPCT concentrations were measured by the LUMItest procalcitonin kit at onset of signs of infection and after recovery. Range of PCT concentrations (ng/ml) was 2.0 to 249.1 in case patients and 0.08 to 1.0 in controls (sensitivity and specificity, 100%). PCT values returned to normal (<1.0 ng/ml) by day 3 to 7 of appropriate antibiotic therapy.ConclusionsMeasurement of PCT concentrations may be useful for early diagnosis and monitoring of infectious complications in neonates during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit.

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