Procalcitonin as a marker of nosocomial infections in the neonatal intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To determine accuracy of procalcitonin concentrations for diagnosing nosocomial infections in critically ill neonates.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Neonatal intensive care unit of a teaching hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-three neonates with nosocomial infection. Four controls matched for duration of hospital stay and birth date were chosen for each case patient.


RESULTS
PCT concentrations were measured by the LUMItest procalcitonin kit at onset of signs of infection and after recovery. Range of PCT concentrations (ng/ml) was 2.0 to 249.1 in case patients and 0.08 to 1.0 in controls (sensitivity and specificity, 100%). PCT values returned to normal (<1.0 ng/ml) by day 3 to 7 of appropriate antibiotic therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of PCT concentrations may be useful for early diagnosis and monitoring of infectious complications in neonates during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Chiesa
C
C
Institute of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome-Institute of Experimental Medicine CNR, 00161-Rome, Italy. PACIFICO@UNIROMA1.it
Pacifico
L
L
Rossi
N
N
Panero
A
A
Matrunola
M
M
Mancuso
G
G
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide