The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · Feb 2009
Multicenter StudyImpact of inappropriate empirical therapy for sepsis due to health care-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
We investigated the influence of empirical therapy on the mortality of patients with health care-associated (HCA) sepsis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in a multicenter cohort, and the variables associated with inappropriate empirical therapy. ⋯ Inappropriate empirical therapy was independently associated with increased mortality in this multicenter cohort. Clinicians should be aware of the need to consider coverage against MRSA more frequently.
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The Journal of infection · Feb 2009
Diagnostic utility of CRP to neopterin ratio in patients with acute respiratory tract infections.
In this study we aimed to investigate the roles of neopterin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and the CRP to neopterin (C/N) ratio to differentiate bacterial from viral aetiology in patients with suspected acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) presenting to the emergency department (ED). ⋯ This study shows that CRP and neopterin have a role in differentiating bacterial from viral causes of ARTI, and the C/N ratio yields optimal differentiation in the ED setting.