Role of CRP in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Introduction: Better diagnostic tests that establish the cause of LRTIs can reduce irrational antibiotic use. CRP is an acute phase protein that increases on inflammatory triggers can solve the purpose. The study aimed at role of CRP in distinguishing between bacterial and viral etiology. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients, aged 2 months to 5 years, with complaints of fever, cough and respiratory distress were included. Along with all other basic investigations like CBC, PBF, ESR, CRP Quantitative was also by Nycocard CRP Single Test for in vitro rapid determination. Results: In LRTI of probable bacterial aetiology mean CRP was 61.72 ±36.665 mg/l which was significantly higher than those with probable viral aetiology with mean CRP of 5.24 ±1.4 mg/l. The cut off level of CRP is taken as 9 mg/l with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 96 %. Conclusion: CRP levels are both sensitive and specific for differentiating between viral and bacterial LRTI, thus reducing the overuse of antibiotics in clinical practice. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v33i2.8106 J Nepal Paediatr Soc. 2013; 33(2):117-120

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How reliable is procalcitonin as an inflammatory marker?1)

LaboratoriumsMedizin ◽

10.1515/jlm.2011.058et ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. ---

Author(s):

Katharina Biller ◽

Peter Fae ◽

Reinhard Germann ◽

Autar K. Walli ◽

Peter Fraunberger

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

Diagnostic Tool ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Inflammatory Marker ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Intensive Care Patients ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract The role of procalcitonin (PCT) plasma levels as a diagnostic tool for intensive care patients has been intensively investigated during the past years. In particular for recognition of bacterial infections, PCT levels have been shown to be superior to other clinical and biochemical markers. Furthermore, some very recent studies show that in patients with lower respiratory tract infections PCT guided antibiotic therapy reduces antibiotic use and thereby may also reduce duration of stay of patients in hospital and thus cut hospitalisation costs. However, various studies indicate that the value of PCT as a prognostic marker is limited because of false positive or negative values. Despite these limitations PCT plasma levels are currently measured in intensive care units. The present study summarises the possible clinical uses of this laboratory marker as a diagnostic tool for the assessment of critically ill patients.

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In Vitro Activity of AR-709 against Streptococcus pneumoniae

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.01332-07 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 1182-1183 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

W. T. M. Jansen ◽

A. Verel ◽

J. Verhoef ◽

D. Milatovic

Keyword(s):

Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽

Lower Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Vitro Activity ◽

In Vitro Activity ◽

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Excellent Activity ◽

Tract Infections

ABSTRACT We investigated the in vitro activity of AR-709, a novel diaminopyrimidine antibiotic currently in development for treatment of community-acquired upper and lower respiratory tract infections, against 151 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains from various European countries. AR-709 showed excellent activity against both drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant pneumococci.

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