title: The uselessness of procalcitonin in the diagnosis of focal bacterial central nervous system infection.
abstract: We investigated the utility of procalcitonin in early diagnosis of bacterial central nervous system (CNS) infection. Serum procalcitonin level was markedly elevated in the patients with systemic meningitis but not in the patients with brain abscess and subdural empyema. Procalcitonin may be useless to diagnose focal bacterial CNS infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. Electronic address: hoshina@pediatr.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoshina
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Etsuro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nanishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusuhara
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D013354:Empyema, Subdural / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
keywords: Brain abscess; Focal bacterial infection; Meningitis; Procalcitonin; Subdural empyema