title: Value of procalcitonin as a biomarker for postoperative hospital-acquired pneumonia after abdominal surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a common complication after abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as early biomarkers for the diagnosis of postoperative HAP after abdominal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on 100 patients undergoing abdominal surgery. White blood cell counts, highest body temperature, and serum levels of CRP and PCT were recorded preoperatively and daily postoperatively until postoperative day (POD) 5. Chest radiography was performed preoperatively and daily postoperatively until POD 5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HAP was diagnosed in 14% of patients. Regarding the biomarkers studied after POD 1, CRP and PCT were significantly higher in patients with HAP than in those without HAP (P < 0.05). On POD 2, PCT had higher sensitivity and specificity (84% and 72%, respectively) than those for CPR (70% and 60%, respectively). The cut-off value of PCT on POD 2 was 1.4 ng/ml. On POD 3, 4, and 5, the sensitivity and specificity of PCT and CRP were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCT and CRP are accurate biomarkers for early prediction of postoperative HAP after abdominal surgery. The diagnostic ability of PCT was significantly better than that of CRP on POD 2. After POD 2, the diagnostic ability was not significantly different between the biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Surgical ICU, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7963-6284
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abu Elyazed
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maysaa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Sayed Zaki
keywords: C-reactive protein; Pneumonia; Procalcitonin