Journal of medical microbiology
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Comparative Study
Comparative diagnostic test evaluation of serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in suspected bloodstream infections in children with cancer.
To compute diagnostic test properties of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels in bloodstream infections in children with cancer and suspected sepsis, in comparison with blood culture as the gold standard. ⋯ PCT is a better serological marker for excluding bloodstream infections than CRP. The cut-off value of 0.49 ng ml-1 with a negative predictive value of 94.67 % will be ideal in a clinical setting of immune-compromised children with suspected sepsis.