Clinical value of serum procalcitonin in the diagnosis of bacterial infections in the critical patients

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of bacte-rial infections in the critically ill patients. Methods A loud d 100 cases of critical patients were divided into bacteri-al infection group(56 cases) and non-bacterial infection group(44 cases). Serum PCT was measured by immunolu-minometric assay. Results The concentration of PCT in bacterial infection group(21.54 ±5.72) μg/L, was signifi-cantly higher than non-bacterial infection group (11. 95±4. 58)μg/L (t =2.291,P<0.05);The APACHE Ⅲ score of bacterial infection group(62. 44 ± 19. 55) cent was significantly higher than non-bacterial infection group(44. 56 ± 25. 88) cent(t = 2. 195 ,P < 0. 05). The concentration of PCT of 1.0μg/L and 2. 0 p.g/L compared to the former sensitivity (96. 5) % higher than the latter (55.2) % (X2 = 3. 94, P < 0. 05), the former specificity (41.7) % lower than the latter (95.8)% (X2 = 4. 02 ,P < 0. 05);1.5μg/L as a positive standard Youden index and the Agreement (83.0 % ,0. 65), were significantly higher than 1 μg/L and 2 μg/L(71.7%, 0. 38 ;73.6% ,0. 51) (X2 = 3.84, X2=3. 90,X2 = 3.992 = 3.91 ,P < 0. 05);The concentration of PCT in death group (38. 9 ±12. 6)μg/L was signifi-canfly higher than the survival group(11.8± 8. 3) μg/L(t =2. 398 ,P <0. 05). Conclusion Serum PCT has clinical values in the diagnosis and therapy of bacterial infections in the critical patients. Key words: critical illness; bacterial infections; proealcitonin; values