Optimal use of procalcitonin to rule out bacteremia in patients with possible viral infections.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

During the winter, many patients present with suspected infection that could be a viral or a bacterial (co)infection. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the optimal use of procalcitonin (PCT) is different in patients with and without proven viral infections for the purpose of excluding bacteremia. We hypothesize that when a viral infection is confirmed, this lowers the probability of bacteremia and, therefore, influences the appropriate cutoff of procalcitonin.

Methods

This study was conducted in the emergency department of an academic medical center in The Netherlands in the winter seasons of 2019 and 2020. Adults (>18 years) with suspected infection, in whom a blood culture and a rapid polymerase chain reaction test for influenza was performed were i

SUBMITTER: Azijli K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9120727 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature