ABSTRACT
Most of the upper respiratory tract infections are viral in origin and accounts for the most frequent cause of antibiotic misuse world over. Conventional test like microbiological culture for confirming bacterial etiology is not very sensitive. We evaluated the utility of biomarkers like procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and total leukocyte count (TLC) to guide antibiotic treatment in such cases. Fifty patients were divided into two groups, those having acute suppurative tonsillitis (n = 40) and those having acute rhinosinusitis (n = 10) were included. Appropriate samples were processed for microbiological culture. Blood samples were taken for PCT, CRP and TLC estimation. Almost 34% of the patients were taking antibiotics at least 1 day prior to their consultation. Microbiological culture was positive only in 38% of cases. The levels of PCT were significantly higher in cases of acute suppurative tonsillitis as compared to rhinosinusitis. The PCT levels correlated well with CRP, TLC and degree of fever in tonsillitis cases. The levels of CRP correlated well with the TLC levels in rhinosinusitis cases. PCT and CRP levels were higher than the normal healthy population in our patients. They can be used as a marker for guiding antibiotic treatment in cases of upper respiratory tract infection of bacterial origin.
How to cite this article
Chauhan P, Sood A, Jain M, Dabla P, Sood S. Serum PCT and CRP Levels in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections as a Marker of Infection. Clin Rhinol An Int J 2013;6(1):1-4.
Antibiotic Treatment of Respiratory Tract Infections in Ambulatory Care in Belgium