The role of PCT and CPIS score in the diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with ventilator associated pneumonia

Abstract

Objective To explore the value of the variation of clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) and serum procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosis and treatment evaluation in patients suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis with complication of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out in 58 VAP patients from June 1, 2009 to December 30, 2014 in the respiratory intensive care unit. According to the patient suffering from tuberculosis or not, patients were divided into two groups. The PCT and CPIS score changes were observed in the two groups of patients with intra-tracheal intubation 1, 3 and 7 days after VAP onset. Comparisons of CPIS and PCT scores were carried out between two groups at different intervals after VAP onset. Data were statistically processed by SPSS 19.0. Count data were tested by χ2, and measurement data were expressed by mean±standard deviation (±s). The comparison within the groups was made by t test, whereas the comparison between the groups was by means of repeated measure analysis of variance and Bonferroni test; Pearson linear correlation analysis was used, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results At the same observation interval in two groups of patients with VAP, there was no significant difference in the serum levels of PCT and CPIS score (P>0.05) ; there were significant differences in PCT and CPIS scores between VAP occurred at the first day, the third day and at time of intra-tracheal intubation in two groups (P 0.05). In addition, at the 7 days the correlation coefficient between PCT and survival patients'mechanical ventilation, days in ICU and total length of hospital stay were 0.92, 0.83, and 0.71, respectively, yet the 7-day CPIS score correlation coefficients were 0.83, 0.74 and 0.70, (both P<0.05) . Conclusions Early monitoring of serum PCT and CIPS score of pulmonary tuberculosis patients can judge the incidence of VAP, and the variations of PCT and CIPS score can predict the severity and prognosis of the disease as well. Key words: Ventilator associated pneumonia; Pulmonary tuberculosis; Procalcitonin; Clinical pulmonary infection score