• Babak Pourakbari, Setareh Mamishi, Javid Zafari, Hanieh Khairkhah, Mohammad H Ashtiani, Masomeh Abedini, Shahla Afsharpaiman, and Soroush Seifi Rad.
• Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
• Braz J Infect Dis. 2010 May 1;14(3):252-5.

BackgroundFever as a common presenting complaint in pediatric patients can be due to various causes. Differentiating bacterial infection from other causes is important because the prompt use of antibiotics is critical in bacterial infection. Traditional markers of infection such as BT and WBC count may be unspecific and culture may be late or absent. CRP and Procalcitonin (PCT) have been considered to evaluate the evolution of infections and sepsis in patients presenting with SIRS. Neopterin has also been proposed to aid in the diagnosis of bacterial infection. In this study, we compared the value of the serum PCT, neopterin level, and WBC count for predicting bacterial infection and outcome in children with fever.Methods158 pediatric (2-120-month-old) patients suspected to have acute bacterial infection, based on clinical judgment in which other causes of SIRS were ruled out were included in the study. WBC count with differential was determined and PCT and neopterin levels were measured.ResultsPCT level was higher in bacterial infection and patients who were complicated or expired.ConclusionRapid PCT test is superior to neopterin and WBC count for anticipating bacterial infection, especially in ED where prompt decision making is critical.

23 keywords...

hide…