Serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitis
Background: In children with meningitis, there is a difficulty to verify the etiology as viral or bacterial. Therefore, intensive research has been carried out to find new and rapid diagnostic methods for differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis. Objectives: The aim of this work was to study...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Global Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jgid.org/article.asp?issn=0974-777X;year=2011;volume=3;issue=1;spage=14;epage=18;aulast=Alkholi |
| _version_ | 1818620515638575104 |
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| author | Usama M Alkholi Nermin Abd Al-monem Ayman A Abd El-Azim Mohamed H Sultan |
| author_facet | Usama M Alkholi Nermin Abd Al-monem Ayman A Abd El-Azim Mohamed H Sultan |
| author_sort | Usama M Alkholi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In children with meningitis, there is a difficulty to verify the etiology as viral or bacterial. Therefore, intensive research has been carried out to find new and rapid diagnostic methods for differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis. Objectives: The aim of this work was to study the behavior of procalcitonin (PCT) and whether it can be used to differentiate children with bacterial from those with viral meningitis. We also compared PCT to C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count. Patients and Methods: Forty children aged from 4 months to 12 years with clinically suspected meningitis were studied. Lumbar punctures were done for all cases before starting initial antibiotic treatment. According to the results of bacterial cultures and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical profile, our patients were classified into two groups: bacterial meningitis group and viral meningitis group. PCT, CRP, and leukocyte count were measured at the time of admission and after 3 days. Results: PCT levels were significantly higher in patients with bacterial meningitis (mean, 24.8 ng/ml) compared to patients with viral meningitis (mean, 0.3 ng/ml) (P<0.001). PCT levels in bacterial meningitis group decreased after 3 days of starting treatment, but remained higher than viral meningitis group (mean, 10.5 ng/ml). All CSF parameters, blood leukocytes, and CRP showed overlapping values between the two groups. Serum PCT with cut off value >2 ng/ml showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 100%, 66%, 68%, and 100%, respectively, for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Conclusion: Serum procalcitonin level has a better diagnostic and prognostic value than CRP or leukocyte count to distinguish between bacterial and viral meningitis. It is also a good indicator of the efficacy of treatment of bacterial meningitis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T17:54:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd6d89979c394a7e91913bc6fa3e1bc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0974-777X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T17:54:37Z |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Global Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd6d89979c394a7e91913bc6fa3e1bc62022-12-21T22:22:12ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Global Infectious Diseases0974-777X2011-01-0131141810.4103/0974-777X.77290Serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitisUsama M AlkholiNermin Abd Al-monemAyman A Abd El-AzimMohamed H SultanBackground: In children with meningitis, there is a difficulty to verify the etiology as viral or bacterial. Therefore, intensive research has been carried out to find new and rapid diagnostic methods for differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis. Objectives: The aim of this work was to study the behavior of procalcitonin (PCT) and whether it can be used to differentiate children with bacterial from those with viral meningitis. We also compared PCT to C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count. Patients and Methods: Forty children aged from 4 months to 12 years with clinically suspected meningitis were studied. Lumbar punctures were done for all cases before starting initial antibiotic treatment. According to the results of bacterial cultures and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical profile, our patients were classified into two groups: bacterial meningitis group and viral meningitis group. PCT, CRP, and leukocyte count were measured at the time of admission and after 3 days. Results: PCT levels were significantly higher in patients with bacterial meningitis (mean, 24.8 ng/ml) compared to patients with viral meningitis (mean, 0.3 ng/ml) (P<0.001). PCT levels in bacterial meningitis group decreased after 3 days of starting treatment, but remained higher than viral meningitis group (mean, 10.5 ng/ml). All CSF parameters, blood leukocytes, and CRP showed overlapping values between the two groups. Serum PCT with cut off value >2 ng/ml showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 100%, 66%, 68%, and 100%, respectively, for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Conclusion: Serum procalcitonin level has a better diagnostic and prognostic value than CRP or leukocyte count to distinguish between bacterial and viral meningitis. It is also a good indicator of the efficacy of treatment of bacterial meningitis.http://www.jgid.org/article.asp?issn=0974-777X;year=2011;volume=3;issue=1;spage=14;epage=18;aulast=AlkholiC-reactive proteinMeningitisProcalcitonin |
| spellingShingle | Usama M Alkholi Nermin Abd Al-monem Ayman A Abd El-Azim Mohamed H Sultan Serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitis Journal of Global Infectious Diseases C-reactive protein Meningitis Procalcitonin |
| title | Serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitis |
| title_full | Serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitis |
| title_fullStr | Serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitis |
| title_short | Serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitis |
| title_sort | serum procalcitonin in viral and bacterial meningitis |
| topic | C-reactive protein Meningitis Procalcitonin |
| url | http://www.jgid.org/article.asp?issn=0974-777X;year=2011;volume=3;issue=1;spage=14;epage=18;aulast=Alkholi |
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