title: Correlation of serum procalcitonin with the severity of skin and skin structure infections - a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Procalcitonin (PCT) is a specific biomarker for early detection of bacterial infections. While the usefulness of procalcitonin in severe conditions such as sepsis is well established, its relevance in the diagnosis and prognosis of localized cutaneous bacterial infections is unknown. Our aim was to initially evaluate if PCT is a useful parameter for predicting the severity of skin and skin structure infections (SSSI). Furthermore, the correlation of PCT levels with C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocyte counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and body temperature was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum PCT, routine laboratory parameters, and body temperature were regularly examined in 50 consecutive patients with SSSI requiring inpatient intravenous antibiotic treatment. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to the guidelines developed by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) as having either an uncomplicated (SSSI) or a complicated skin and skin structure infection (cSSSI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant correlation could be detected between the length of inpatient antibiotic treatment and PCT on days 1, 2, 3, and the maximum value on these days. The same result was found when uncomplicated SSSI and complicated SSSI (cSSSI) were evaluated separately. However, PCT levels were significantly higher in the latter. Furthermore, PCT levels showed a significant correlation with CRP, leukocyte count, ESR, and body temperature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCT might be a useful additional tool for initial diagnosis and monitoring of patients with SSSI.
authors.affiliation: Karl Landsteiner Institute of Dermatological Research, St. Pölten, Austria. johanna.eder@stpoelten.lknoe.at
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hlavin
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haushofer
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trubert-Exinger
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trautinger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide