Abstract:

Objectives: Early diagnosis and targeted therapy are the determinants of mortality in bloodstream infections. In the time until the blood cultures are finalized, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) can contribute to the decision of the appropriate treatment. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between CRP and PCT according to gram characteristics of factors grown in blood culture. Materials and Methods: Blood culture results, CRP and PCT values of the patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of bloodstream infection in the intensive care unit between June 2017 and December 2019, 24 hours before or after the culture collection, were retrospectively analyzed. Causative microorganisms were separated according to their gram characteristics and their CRP and PCT values were compared. Results: Causative microorganisms in 348 blood cultures of 123 patients included in the study were examined. While the median CRP was 136 mg/L in Gram-negative agents, the median CRP was found as 109.5 mg/L in Gram-positive agents (p=0.024). While the median PCT was 1.4 ng/mL in Gram-negative agents, it was found to be 0.81 ng/mL in Gram-positive agents (p=0.041). Conclusion: Higher CRP and PCT levels were found in bloodstream infections caused by Gram-negative agents compared to Gram-positive agents in our study. Prediction of the causative microorganism with inflammatory markers and initiation of appropriate empirical treatment may be considered in the period until the culture results is completed.

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