The Pediatric infectious disease journal
-
Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Oct 1999
Comparative StudyComparison of procalcitonin with C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha for differentiation of bacterial vs. viral infections.
Procalcitonin (PCT) 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. ⋯ In this study a PCT value of 1 microg/l or greater had better specificity, sensitivity and predictive value than CRP, interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha in children for distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections. PCT values are higher in invasive bacterial infections, but the cutoff value of 1 microg/l indicates the severity of the disease in localized bacterial infection and helps to decide antibiotic treatment in emergency room. PCT may be useful in an emergency room for differentiation of bacterial vs. viral infections in children and for making decisions about antibiotic treatments.
-
Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Oct 1999
Clinical significance of enteroviruses in serious summer febrile illnesses of children.
Enteroviruses are common causes of aseptic meningitis and nonspecific febrile illnesses in young children. During the summer-fall months, enterovirus-infected children are frequently evaluated in emergency room settings to rule out bacterial sepsis and/or meningitis. ⋯ During the summer-fall months, 39% (79 of 203) of children for whom blood cultures and/or lumbar punctures were performed for suspected bacterial infection had enterovirus infection identified as the only explanation for their illness. Of those patients with no alternative diagnosis, enterovirus infection was confirmed in 46% (79 of 179). The majority of those patients requiring hospitalization were infected with enteroviruses. The use of PCR increases the number of children for whom a specific etiology of illness can be determined and may in the future reduce the hospitalization and use of unnecessary antibiotics in patients with enterovirus infections.