Procalcitonin in Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections in Young Infants

Point-of-care-testing for Procalcitonin in Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections in Young Infants: a Diagnostic Accuracy Study

A diagnostic accuracy study investigating the accuracy of procalcitonin in diagnosing invasive bacterial infections in your infants.

The primary aim of this study was to report on the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin in the diagnosis of bacterial infections in young infants. This included invasive bacterial infections; defined as the isolation of a bacterial pathogen in blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture.

We conducted a prospective observational diagnostic accuracy study. Young infants less than 90 days of age presenting to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children with signs of possible bacterial infection were eligible for inclusion. Eligible infants underwent procalcitonin testing using 0.5ml of whole blood with a BRAHMS assay on the Samsung LABGEO IB10® analyser.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Suspected bacterial infection

Exclusion Criteria:

• None