Comparison of blood cultures, CRP and PCT levels in sepsis and bacteremia patients with control groups

2-SUMMARY COMPARISON OF BLOOD CULTURES, CRP AND PCT LEVELS IN SEPSIS AND BACTEREMIA PATIENTS WITH CONTROL GROUPS Keywords: Sepsis, bacteremia, CRP, PCT, blood cultures Sepsis syndrome, which goes with high risk of mortality and morbidity, can be recognized by clinical symptoms more than labaratory findings. Up to date, different site cultures, high leukocyte counts, high CRP levels have been used for diagnosis, but none of them has been found to be sufficient for this purpose. In 1993, procalcitonin, the precursor of calcitonin hormone, was put forward to be used as a marker for bacterial sepsis. Procalcitonin is said to be sensitive and specific enough for diagnosis of bacteria! sepsis. In this study, 50 patients, who were diagnosed as having sepsis (25) or bacteremia (25) clinically and 25 healthy subjects who had no symptoms for infection were compared for the results of blood cultures, blood CRP and PCT levels. Blood samples were studied in BACTEC 9240 for blood cultures, in Dade Behring nephelometer for CRP levels and Berthold Lumat LB 9507 for PCT levels. The results were examined for the differences between groups. In sepsis group, 88% of the patients had positive blood cultures, while high CRP and PCT levels were found in 100% patients for both. In bacteremia group, 100% of the patients had positive blood cultures, and CRP and PCT levels were 92% and 12% respectively. Control group had no positive blood culture (0%), and no high PCT levels (0%), but the ratio of high CRP levels were 32%. There was a difference between sepsis, bacteremia and contol group regarding to mean CRP and PCT values. Positive blood cultures were correlated with high PCT values but not with high CRP levels. - «, - v ra f.Considering the sensitivity and specificity of CRP and PCT, CRP had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 40%, whiie for PCT, sensitivity was 100%, and specificity was 70%. These data show that PCT is a valuable test especially in bacterial sepsis for diagnosis and seems to be hopeful for the future.