Pediatric Infection and Vaccine

The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (대한소아감염학회)
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Diagnostic Value of Serum Procalcitonin in Febrile Infants Under 6 Months of Age for the Detection of Bacterial Infections

발열이 있는 6개월 미만의 영아에서 세균성 감염에 대한 procalcitonin의 진단적 가치

  • Kim, Nam Hyo (Department of Pediatrics, CHA University, CHA Bundang Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Ji Hee (Department of Pediatrics, CHA University, CHA Bundang Medical Center) ;
  • Lee, Taek Jin (Department of Pediatrics, CHA University, CHA Bundang Medical Center)
  • 김남효 (차의과학대학교 분당차병원 소아청소년과) ;
  • 김지희 (차의과학대학교 분당차병원 소아청소년과) ;
  • 이택진 (차의과학대학교 분당차병원 소아청소년과)
  • Received : 2009.08.11
  • Accepted : 2009.09.19
  • Published : 2009.12.25
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Abstract

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared with that of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the total white blood cell count (WBC) in predicting bacterial infections in febrile infants<6 months of age. Methods : A prospective study was performed with infants <6 months of age who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with a fever of uncertain source between July and September 2008. Spinal taps were performed according to clinical symptoms and physical examination. Serum PCT levels were measured using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Results : Seventy-one infants (mean age, 2.62 months) were studied. Twenty-six infants (36.6%) had urinary tract infections (UTIs), and 22 infants (31.0%) had viral meningitis. The remaining infants had acute pharyngitis (n=1), herpangina (n=1), upper respiratory tract infections (n=7), acute bronchiolitis (n=8), acute gastroenteritis (n=4), and bacteremia (n=2). The median WBC and CRP levels were significantly higher in infants with UTIs than in infants with viral meningitis. However, there were no differences in the median PCT levels between the groups (0.14 ng/mL vs. 0.11 ng/mL, P=0.419). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.792 (95% CI, 0.65-0.896) for WBC, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.626-0.879) for CRP, and 0.568 (95% CI, 0.417-0.710) for PCT. An elevated WBC count (>11,920/${\mu}L$) and an increased CRP level (>1.06mg/dL) were significant predictors of UTIs based on multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : Serum PCT concentrations should be interpreted with caution in infants <6 months of age with a fever of uncertain source.

목 적: 6개월 미만의 열이 있는 영아에서 세균성 감염을 진단하는 데 있어서 C-반응 단백질(CRP), 전백혈구 수치(WBC)와 비교하여 혈청 procalcitonin (PCT)가 진단적 가치가 있는지 알아보고자 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : 전향적인 연구방법을 채택해 2008년 7월부터 9월까지 분당차병원 소아청소년과에 발열을 주소로 내원한 6개월 미만의 영아를 대상으로 하였다. 내원 당시 체온, 흉부방사선 검사, 뇨분석검사 및 배양검사와 함께 말초 혈액에서 WBC를 포함한 전혈구 검사, CRP, PCT, 혈액배양검사를 진행하였고, 임상 증상과 이학적 검사에 따라서 대변검사와 복부방사선 검사, 수막염 진단을 위한 뇌척수액 검사도 진행하였다. 결 과: 총 71명의 영아가 연구에 포함되었고 이 중에서 26명(36.6%)이 요로감염을 진단받았으며, 22명(31.0%)이 바이러스성 수막염을 진단받았다. 다른 질환으로는 급성 인두염과 포진성 구협염이 각각 1명씩 진단되었고, 상부 호흡기 감염증 7명, 급성 세기관지염 8명, 급성 위장관염 4명, 균혈증 2명이 진단되었다. 요로감염군과 바이러스성 수막염군을 비교했을때, WBC와 CRP수치는 요로감염군에서 통계적으로 유의하게 더 높은 수치를 보였으나, PCT수치는 두 군 사이에서 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. ROC 곡선 분석에 의해 산출한 곡선 아래 면적은 WBC 0.792 (95% CI, 0.65-0.896), CRP 0.77 (95% CI, 0.626-0.879), PCT 0.568 (95% CI, 0.417-0.710)로 측정되었으며, 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석에 의해 WBC가 11,920/${\mu}L$보다 큰 경우와 CRP가 1.06g/dL보다 큰 경우는 요로감염을 진단하는 데 있어서 진단적 가치가 있음을 확인하였다. 결 론: 6개월 미만의 발열을 주소로 내원한 영아에서 세균성 감염을 예측하기 위한 인자로서 혈청 PCT수치에 대한 연구가 부족하고 진단적 기준 역시 명확하지 않으므로 단독으로 해석함에 있어서 주의를 기울여야 한다.

Keywords

References

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