C-reactive protein velocity following antibiotics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation and community acquired pneumonia.
BACKGROUND
Distinguishing community acquired pneumonia (CAP) from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation is a challenging task, since fever, productive cough, dyspnea, and leukocytosis are all common features of both conditions. Moreover, chest X-ray might not be sensitive enough. It is therefore quite common for physicians to prescribe unnecessary antibiotics for COPD exacerbation, leading to resistant bacteria and other related adverse affects.


OBJECTIVE
To study whether CRP levels upon admission and the delta in CRP levels following initiation of antibacterial treatment, could provide an efficient tool for distinguishing CAP from COPD exacerbation.


METHODS
The study group included 36 COPD exacerbation and 49 CAP patients, admitted to a single Internal Medicine department during the years 2004-2006. All patients were treated with cephalosporins and macrolides upon admission.


RESULTS
CRP levels upon admission were significantly higher among CAP patients than among COPD exacerbation patients (111.5+/-104.4 vs. 34.9+/-28.6 mg/l, p<0.0001). CRP levels on the second day of hospitalization, following antibiotic administration to all patients, made a sharp incline in 36.7% of CAP patients compared to only 5.9% of COPD exacerbation patients (p=0.005), and remained unchanged in 61.8% of COPD patients compared to 16.3% of CAP patients (p=0.0006).


CONCLUSIONS
CRP levels upon admission and the delta in CRP levels following initiation of antibacterial treatment could provide an efficient tool for distinguishing CAP from COPD exacerbation.
Justo
Dan
D
Department of Internal Medicine D, Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel. justo1@bezeqint.net
Lachmi
Saar
S
Saar
Nili
N
Joffe
Erel
E
Atzmony
Lihi
L
Mashav
Noa
N
Henis
Oren
O
Sade
Ben
B
Chundadze
Tamar
T
Steinvil
Arie
A
Paran
Yael
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein