Use of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein to evaluate vaccine efficacy against pneumonia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pneumonia remains the leading cause of death in young children. The poor specificity of chest radiographs (CXRs) to diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia may underestimate the efficacy of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in preventing pneumococcal pneumonia.

Methods and findings

The efficacy of nine-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among children not infected with HIV (21%; 95% confidence interval, 1%-37%) increased when CXR-confirmed pneumonia was associated with serum C-reactive protein of 120 mg/l (12 mg/dl) or more and procalcitonin of 5.0 ng/ml or more (64%; 95% confidence interval, 23%-83%). Similar results were observed in children infected with HIV.

Conclusion

C-reactive protein and procalcitonin improve the specificity of CXR to diagnose pneumococcal

SUBMITTER: Madhi SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC549587 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature