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Intrinsic values of procalcitonin in bacterial bloodstream infections in people aged 75 years and over: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate PCT measurement in the diagnosis of bloodstream infection (BSI) in hospitalized patients aged 75+.

METHOD: Descriptive, retrospective, monocentric study conducted in France, in patients with at least one blood culture and PCT and CRP measurements within the 24 hours before or after blood culture.

RESULTS: The mean PCT and CRP values for the 118 (15.2%) positive blood cultures were 18.90 ng/ml [95%CI: 0.007-334.7] and 153.93 mg/l [1-557], respectively. With a threshold of 0.3 ng/ml, PCT measurement had a sensitivity of 84%, a specificity of 53%, a PPV of 24%, and an NPV of 95%, making it possible to rule out BSI in 350 (45.1%) patients (α-risk=5%).

CONCLUSION: PCT measurement may eliminate BSI diagnosis more quickly than does blood culture reducing the inadequate and detrimental use of antibiotic therapy. A prospective study is required to validate its usefulness and confirm the cut-off value in geriatric populations.

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