Discriminatory Value of Procalcitonin

摘要

In their review of the management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), Waterer and coworkers state that the "clinical discriminating value of Procalcitonin (PCT) remains unclear" (1). For PCT levels to distinguish viral from bacterial pneumonia requires documentation of the microbial etiology of the pneumonia (2). Waterer and colleagues base the "lack of discrimination" statement on four cited publications. Thayyil and coworkers studied 72 children with fever but no focal clinical signs or symptoms (3). Definite bacterial infection was confirmed by culture and clinical syndrome in only 8 of the 72 children. Viral infections were diagnosed clinically.