title: lnterleukin-8 and procalcitonin in early diagnosis of early severe bacterial infection in critically ill neonates.
abstract: We studied the value of serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) and procalcitonin (PCT) in the early diagnosis of early severe bacterial infection in 58 critically ill ventilated neonates. ELISA was used for determining IL-8 and immunoluminometric assay for PCT. IL-8 and PCT were compared with routinely used serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Neonates were divided into four groups: Ia - proven severe bacterial infection (n = 9), Ib - clinical sepsis (n = 16), II - respiratory distress without bacterial infection (n = 12), and III - various types of neonatal distress (n = 21). Sera were collected on admission, at 24 h and 48 h after admission. There was no significant difference between groups Ia and Ib for either parameter at any time interval. Significant difference was found between group Ia+b (septic neonates) and group II for PCT and CRP at 24 and 48 h, but not for IL-8. There was no difference between group Ia+b and group III except for CRP at 24 h. Diagnostic accuracy was best for PCT on admission and for CRP at 24 h. Serum PCT and IL-8 are not specific markers for early severe bacterial infection in critically ill neonates and are not better than CRP.
authors.affiliation: Lek, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company, d.d., Research and Development, Medical Research, Celovška 135, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonač
authors.affiliation: Division for Paediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, Department Surgery, University Medical Centre, Zaloška 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Metka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Derganc
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, Korytkova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wraber
authors.affiliation: Department for Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre, Zaloška 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Sergej
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hojker
keywords: CRP; Key words interleukin-8; early sepsis; neonatal intensive care; procalcitonin