Infection
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The diagnostic value of admission serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as indicators of the etiology and prognosis was prospectively investigated. ⋯ Our data indicate that in patients admitted to the hospital with CAP, measurement of PCT gives information about the severity of the disease, and may aid the physician to differentiate typical bacterial etiology from atypical etiology, and thereby to choose appropriate initial antibiotic treatment.