[Hypersensitive C-reactive protein test in the diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical value of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) test in early diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants.


METHODS
Thirty-five premature infants with early-onset infection, 50 premature infants with non-infectious diseases and 40 healthy premature infants 3 hrs after birth were enrolled. Serum hsCRP levels were measured by particle enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. Diagnostic test of hsCRP was performed.


RESULTS
Serum hsCRP levels shown as medium and inter-quartile ranges (M, Q75-25) were 2.19 and 4.96 mg/L respectively in the infection group, 0.41 and 0.61 mg/L respectively in the non-infectious disease group, and 0.24 and 0.28 mg/L respectively in the healthy group. Serum hsCRP levels in the infection group were significantly higher than those in the non-infectious disease and the healthy groups. When serum hsCRP test was used for the diagnosis of early-onset infection, the area under the ROC curve was 0.84, 95% confidence interval was 0.76-0.93, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 86% respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 37% and 97% respectively. ConclusionsSerum hsCRP test is valuable in early diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants, but it can not serve as an independent diagnostic marker.
Bu
Jun
J
Department of Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical School, Shanghai 200127, China.
Sun
Jian-Hua
JH
Zhu
Jian-Xin
JX
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein