title: Early identification of bacteremia by biochemical markers of systemic inflammation.
abstract: Group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2-II), procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are useful indicators of the severity of inflammation in various infections. To compare their discriminatory abilities at an early phase of bacteremia, PLA2-II, PCT and CRP were measured upon admission and 24-48 h thereafter in 29 patients with bacteremia, non-bacteremic bacterial or viral infections. The levels of PLA2-II and PCT were higher in bacteremia than in non-bacteremic bacterial or viral infections. PCT was highest upon admission, PLA2-II peaked at 12-24h, whereas CRP peaked one day later. At < or =24h, the AUC(ROC)s of PLA2-II and PCT were superior to those of CRP. Thereafter, the AUC(ROC)s of PLA2-II and PCT decreased and those of CRP increased. PLA2-II at cut-off level of 150 microg/L and PCT at 2-6 microg/L showed high sensitivity and specificity for bacteremia within the first 24h. In conclusion, PLA2-II and PCT are useful markers for early diagnosis of bacteremia. Devising analytical methods suitable for point-of-care testing would further enhance the clinical utility of the measurement of serum PLA2-II and PCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Microbiology, Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori, Finland. esa.rintala@satshp.fi
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rintala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aittoniemi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nikoskelainen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000097:blood*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide