title: C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of postoperative infection in pediatric patients: a prospective observational study of 103 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical stress elicits a systemic inflammatory response syndrome that contributes to the development of septic complications. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein released in inflammatory states. To analyze the usefulness of CRP as a marker of infection in surgical pediatric patients, we analyzed its kinetics in these patients in comparison with usual markers, such temperature, leukocytes, or fibrinogen.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred three pediatric patients undergoing major surgery were enrolled consecutively in this observational study. C-reactive protein, leukocytes, neutrophils, platelets, fibrinogen, glycemia, and temperature were determined daily after surgery. Patients were classified as infected or not infected. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, efficiency, precocity, positive likelihood ratio, and number of subjects to be treated were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak in CRP was detected at 48 ± 24 hours. C-reactive protein was higher in the infected group from the first day, with significant differences between groups from the second day. Best cutoff for detecting infection was increases in CRP of 11 mg/dL in 48 hours, with a sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 89%, precocity of 1.7 days (0.82-2.54), number of subjects to be treated of 1.7 (1.4-2.6), and positive likelihood ratio of 7.9. Application of other markers alone or in combination did not surpass the sensitivity, specificity, or precocity for increases in CRP of 11 mg/dL in 48 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increases of CRP constitute an easy and cheap prognostic alert system and may be used to establish strategies aimed to detect infection in surgical pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain. ylaportabaez@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Laporta Baez
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palomero Rodriguez
authors.forename: Jesus Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: De Vicente Sánchez
authors.forename: Pascual
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanabria Carretero
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al Kassam Martínez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez Ferrer
authors.forename: Clemente
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muriel Villoria
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gilsanz Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein