Conference abstract
Utility of procalcitonin over C-reactive protein as a rapid diagnostic marker of bacterial infections in feverish patients with or no hemoculture results in Cameroon
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(108).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.108.2216
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Procalcitonin, bacterial infection, rapid diagnosis
Oral presentation
Utility of procalcitonin over C-reactive protein as a rapid diagnostic marker of bacterial infections in feverish patients with or no hemoculture results in Cameroon
Akwah Lilian1,&, Hortense Gonsu Kamga1,2, Essia Ngang Jean Justin2, Essame Oyono Jean Louis1, Emilia E. Lyonga Mbamyah2, Mbakop Calixte Didier1, Mohamadou Mansour1, Mbah Clarisse Engowei1
1Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal plant Studies, Center of Medical Research, Human Biology Laboratory, Cameroon, 2Department of Microbiology, Hematology, Parasitology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: early identification of bacterial infection in patients with fever is important for prompt and specific treatment. However, the available biomarkers microbiologic culture requires at least 24-48 hours. Therefore more specific and rapid biomarkers of bacterial infections are needed. The objective was to assess the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) over CRP and leukocyte counts for bacterial infection screening in feverish patients while awaiting their hemoculture results.
Methods: blood samples were collected from feverish patients between January and July 2020 and then processed for blood cultures. PCT, CRP, and WBC levels were measured. The patients were divided into two groups according to the final diagnosis: bacterial infection group (group 1) and non-bacterial infection group (group 2). Normally distributed variables were calculated using mean, standard deviation, and ANOVA test while median and range were used for variables without a normal distribution.
Results: there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the levels of PCT, CRP, and WBC among the two groups. The PCT levels of patients in the bacterial infections group were significantly higher than those in the nonbacterial infections group (27.9 vs., 11.7 P < 0.001). The best cut-off value to detect bacterial infections was 1.46 ng/ml for PCT. PCT, CRP, and WBC had areas under the curve of 0.71, 0.66, and 0.45 respectively, and sensitivity of 100%, 72.7%, and 27.3% respectively.
Conclusion: our results showed that PCT was a valuable marker for the early and rapid diagnosis of bacterial infections in febrile patients in our setting when compared to CRP and WBC. However, prospective and large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings in Cameroon.
Utility of procalcitonin over C-reactive protein as a rapid diagnostic marker of bacterial infections in feverish patients with or no hemoculture results in Cameroon
Akwah Lilian1,&, Hortense Gonsu Kamga1,2, Essia Ngang Jean Justin2, Essame Oyono Jean Louis1, Emilia E. Lyonga Mbamyah2, Mbakop Calixte Didier1, Mohamadou Mansour1, Mbah Clarisse Engowei1
1Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal plant Studies, Center of Medical Research, Human Biology Laboratory, Cameroon, 2Department of Microbiology, Hematology, Parasitology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: early identification of bacterial infection in patients with fever is important for prompt and specific treatment. However, the available biomarkers microbiologic culture requires at least 24-48 hours. Therefore more specific and rapid biomarkers of bacterial infections are needed. The objective was to assess the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) over CRP and leukocyte counts for bacterial infection screening in feverish patients while awaiting their hemoculture results.
Methods: blood samples were collected from feverish patients between January and July 2020 and then processed for blood cultures. PCT, CRP, and WBC levels were measured. The patients were divided into two groups according to the final diagnosis: bacterial infection group (group 1) and non-bacterial infection group (group 2). Normally distributed variables were calculated using mean, standard deviation, and ANOVA test while median and range were used for variables without a normal distribution.
Results: there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the levels of PCT, CRP, and WBC among the two groups. The PCT levels of patients in the bacterial infections group were significantly higher than those in the nonbacterial infections group (27.9 vs., 11.7 P < 0.001). The best cut-off value to detect bacterial infections was 1.46 ng/ml for PCT. PCT, CRP, and WBC had areas under the curve of 0.71, 0.66, and 0.45 respectively, and sensitivity of 100%, 72.7%, and 27.3% respectively.
Conclusion: our results showed that PCT was a valuable marker for the early and rapid diagnosis of bacterial infections in febrile patients in our setting when compared to CRP and WBC. However, prospective and large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings in Cameroon.
