Correlation of procalcitonin and white blood count levels in pediatric patients with blood culture tests: A two-year study

• Main Authors: Demigillo, Roberto M., Jr., Madrid, Manuelito A.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2018
• Subjects: Septicemia in children; Calcitonin; Leucocytes; Bacteremia; Medical Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11125
• Institution: De La Salle University

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. This study aims to correlate patients’ blood culture and trend of WBC levels, as well as the serum procalcitonin level among the pediatric population. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to determine the correlation of procalcitonin and white blood cell count with blood culture results among pediatric patients clinically diagnosed with sepsis. METHODS: This study is an institutionalized, retrospective study conducted in a tertiary pediatric hospital from the period of January 2017 to December 2018. Among those who had blood culture results, database was cross checked if there were simultaneous procalcitonin (PCT) and white blood cell count determination from the same period of the admission of the same patient. RESULTS: The most common pathogen isolated was Staphylococcus aureus coagulase negative, followed by Candida sp. Procalcitonin levels ranged from 0.02 ng/dL to 1,192 ng/dL, with 777 patients with elevated level of procalcitonin, 116 of which had positive blood culture. The average WBC is at 12.9 x 109 /L. The highest and lowest recorded WBC is at 76.3 and 0.02 x 109 /L, respectively, and varies independently when correlated with the blood culture results. The procalcitonin level which maximizes probability of detecting a true positive blood culture result was calculated at 686 ng/dL. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: There is no direct relationship between WBC levels and procalcitonin levels, nor is there a direct relationship between WBC levels and a positive blood culture result. A cut-off level of 686 ng/dL was calculated to be able to predict a bacteremia/fungemia. The study recommends a longer duration of follow-up study with a larger number of populations for a more precise and sensitive prediction of procalcitonin cut-off level.