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Value of measuring serum procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and mannan antigens to distinguish fungal from bacterial infections

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Abstract

The study presented here was conducted to determine the diagnostic value of measuring procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and mannan antigens to distinguish fungal from bacterial infections. The sensitivity and specificity of these measurements ranged from 35% to 97%. On days 1 and 3 following the onset of fever, both serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels were lower in patients with fungal infections than in those with bacterial infections (p<0.0001). The presence of mannan antigens combined with a procalcitonin level <0.5 ng/ml provided higher specificity for distinguishing fungal from bacterial infections than each result alone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Athens University School of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma street, 115 27, Athens, Greece

    G. L. Petrikkos, S. A. Christofilopoulou, N. K. Tentolouris, E. A. Charvalos, C. J. Kosmidis & G. L. Daikos

Authors
  1. G. L. Petrikkos
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  2. S. A. Christofilopoulou
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  3. N. K. Tentolouris
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  4. E. A. Charvalos
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  5. C. J. Kosmidis
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  6. G. L. Daikos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. A. Christofilopoulou.

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Petrikkos, G.L., Christofilopoulou, S.A., Tentolouris, N.K. et al. Value of measuring serum procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and mannan antigens to distinguish fungal from bacterial infections. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 24, 272–275 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-1312-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-1312-z

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