ArticleInfectious diseases in clinical practice (Baltimore, Md.)2016
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Procalcitonin for Bacteremia in Critically Ill Children.
Article in Infectious diseases in clinical practice (Baltimore, Md.), 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparison of efficacy of procalcitonin (PCT) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) as biochemical markers of sepsis in pediatric intensive care unit (ICU).Pakistan journal of medical sciences · 2026Article
- Neonatal sepsis: any role for procalcitonin as a diagnostic marker?BMC pediatrics · 2026Article
- Evaluation of procalcitonin as a marker of bacterial sepsis in children in Owerri, Nigeria.African health sciences · 2025Article
- Opportunities for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Caring for Febrile Pediatric Inpatients in Abu Dhabi.Global pediatric health · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundBacterial sepsis is frequently encountered in children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and requires early recognition and treatment. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a serum biomarker with a high sensitivity to predict bacteremia in critically-ill adults. This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PCT for bacteremia in febrile children in the PICU.
methodsThis retrospective observational study used data from children admitted to the PICU from October 2010 to October 2012. Patients up to 21 years of age were included if they had an abnormal temperature, serum PCT and blood culture assayed, and were not receiving empiric antibiotics at the time.
resultsThere were 202 PCT values that met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of positive blood cultures was 13.2% (27 total positive blood cultures). The area under the curve (AUC) for PCT was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.70-0.89), the AUC for lactate was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.65-0.87), and the AUC for C-reactive protein was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.57-0.80). The optimal threshold of PCT for accuracy was determined to be 2 ng/mL (sensitivity = 69.2%, specificity = 74.4%, positive predictive value = 28.6%, negative predictive value = 94.2%). The combination of an abnormal lactate (> 2.0mmol/L) increased the specificity of PCT for diagnosing bacteremia.
conclusionsPCT has a good diagnostic accuracy to rule-out bacteremia in critically-ill, febrile children. The combination of PCT and an abnormal lactate value increases the specificity and may improve the ability to diagnose bacteremia.
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