title: The value of C-reactive protein as a marker of bacterial infection in patients with septicaemia/endocarditis and influenza.
abstract: In order to evaluate the capacity of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) to differentiate between bacterial and viral infection we studied 176 patients with septicaemia/endocarditis (SE), 59 patients with uncomplicated influenza (UI) and 22 patients with complicated influenza (CI) retrospectively. All 4 parameters were significantly more elevated in SE and CI than in UI. Among patients with SE 10 176 had a CRP value less than 50 mg/l and in patients with UI 5/56 had a CRP value greater than 100 mg/l. Patients with SE caused by pneumococci had the highest CRP levels and patients with alfa-haemolytic streptococci the lowest. The sensitivity and specificity favours the use of CRP as an indicator of bacterial superinfection in influenza.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Roslagstull Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindbäck
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hellgren
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Julander
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015163:Superinfection / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein