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  • Original Article
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Procalcitonin as a Screening Test for Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 25, pages 397–402 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the utility of procalcitonin (PCT) vs C-reactive protein (CRP) as indicators of late-onset neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

METHODS:

PCT and CRP levels were measured in VLBW infants with suspected sepsis and controls. Comparisons were made between infected vs noninfected infants. Using cutoff values of 0.5 and 1.0 ng/ml for PCT and 0.8 mg/dl for CRP, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated to evaluate these assays as potential predictors of late-onset sepsis.

RESULTS:

A total of 67 infants were evaluated. Mean PCT levels were significantly higher in the infected group (5.41 ng/ml) compared to the noninfected group (0.43 ng/ml) (p<0.001). At a cut off value of 0.5 ng/ml, the sensitivity of PCT was 97%, whereas that of CRP was 73% in predicting late-onset sepsis. At a PCT cutoff of 1.0 ng/ml, sensitivities of PCT and CRP were similar (72% each).

CONCLUSION:

PCT (0.5 ng/ml) is more sensitive than CRP in predicting late-onset sepsis in VLBW infants.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the Advocate Lutheran General Health Partners Endowment Fund and Advocate Investigator Initiated Research Grant. Special thanks to Bryan Coyle, MA (Statistics).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA

    Ramesh Vazzalwar MD, Estela Pina-Rodrigues MD & Bhagya L Puppala MD

  2. Division of Research, Department of Pediatrics, Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA

    Denise B Angst DNSc & Lorene Schweig RN

  3. Advocate Medical Group, Park Ridge, IL, USA

    Bhagya L Puppala MD

Authors
  1. Ramesh Vazzalwar MD
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  2. Estela Pina-Rodrigues MD
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  3. Bhagya L Puppala MD
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  4. Denise B Angst DNSc
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  5. Lorene Schweig RN
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Additional information

E.P.R is currently practicing with Sheridan Health Corporation, Sunrise, FL, USA.

Statistical Consultant: Bryan Coyle, MA of Advocate Institutional Review Board.

Financial Support: Advocate Lutheran General Health Partners Endowment Fund.

Presented in part at the Pediatric Academic Society's Annual Meeting, May, 2004, San Francisco, CA, USA.

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Vazzalwar, R., Pina-Rodrigues, E., Puppala, B. et al. Procalcitonin as a Screening Test for Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Very Low Birth Weight Infants. J Perinatol 25, 397–402 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211296

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