Impact of C-reactive protein test results on evidence-based decision-making in cases of bacterial infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

C-reactive protein (CRP) is widely used to detect bacterial infection in children. We investigated the impact of CRP test results on decision-making and summarized the evidence base (EB) of CRP testing.

Methods

We collected information from the hospital records of 91 neonates with suspected sepsis and of 152 febrile children with suspected infection on the number of ordered CRP tests, the number of EB-CRP tests, and the impact of the test results on decision-making. CRP diagnostic accuracy studies focusing on pediatric infections were reviewed critically. The main outcomes were the proportion of CRP tests that were EB and the proportion of tests that affected decision-making. A secondary outcome was the overall one-year expenditure on CRP testing.

Results

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SUBMITTER: Nabulsi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3457842 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature