title: Value of measuring serum procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and mannan antigens to distinguish fungal from bacterial infections.
abstract: The study presented here was conducted to determine the diagnostic value of measuring procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and mannan antigens to distinguish fungal from bacterial infections. The sensitivity and specificity of these measurements ranged from 35% to 97%. On days 1 and 3 following the onset of fever, both serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels were lower in patients with fungal infections than in those with bacterial infections (p<0.0001). The presence of mannan antigens combined with a procalcitonin level <0.5 ng/ml provided higher specificity for distinguishing fungal from bacterial infections than each result alone.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Athens University School of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma street, 115 27 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Petrikkos
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Christofilopoulou
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Tentolouris
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Charvalos
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kosmidis
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Daikos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D008351:Mannans; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide