Diagnostic test accuracy of point-of-care procalcitonin to diagnose serious bacterial infections in children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have called for research into the role of biomarkers, and specifically procalcitonin (PCT), for the early diagnosis of serious bacterial infections (SBI) in children. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic test accuracy of C-reactive protein (CRP) and PCT for the diagnosis of SBI in children.

Methods

Data was collected prospectively from four UK emergency departments (ED) between November 2017 and June 2019. Consecutive children under 18 years of age with fever and features of possible sepsis and/or meningitis were eligible for inclusion. The index tests were PCT and CRP and the reference standard was the confirmation of SBI.

Results

213 children were included in the final analysis. 1

SUBMITTER: Waterfield T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7576699 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature