C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Qualitative determination of C-reactive protein (CRP) was evaluated as a diagnostic method for community-acquired pneumonia. Paired serum and pleural fluid samples from child patients were examined with a CRP test, compared to bacterial cultures, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and immunoassay. The CRP test gave excellent parameters of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia.

The Association of Positive Chest Radiograph and Laboratory Parameters with Community Acquired Pneumonia in Children

“…However, our results contradicted the results of the studies which were done by Patenaude et al, [19] 1995 (86%) and Bharti B et al, [20] in 2008 (83.1%). The sensitivity of the C-reactive protein, which was observed in our study was 90.9%, which matched with those of the studies which were done by Heiskanen-Kosma T et al, [21] in 2000 (94.3%), by Requejo HI et al, [22] in 2003 (98%) and by Enitan D and Carrol et al, [23] in 2009 (97.2%). Our results differed from those of the studies which were done by Massimiliano Don et al, [24] in 2009 (74%) and Virkki R et al, [25] in 2002 (73.5%).…”

Community-acquired pneumonia in the childhood: analysis of the diagnostic methods

“…Our proposed Dot-ELISA proved to be a practical alternative procedure for bacterial antigen detection, in view of its execution without the need for reading equipment, and economy of pneumococcal omniserum and other bacterial antiserum, that may be used at 1:200 dilution [6][7][8]. Positivities obtained by Dot-ELISA are higher than that obtained by CIE and LA, when pleural fluid, serum, and/or urine samples are employed in the tests, despite the similar values of sensitivity.…”

“…Paired samples of pleural fluid, serum and urine from 550 children with clinical diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia were assayed by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), latex agglutination (LA), and dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Dot-ELISA) for antigen detection according to previously standardized procedures [4][5][6][7][8]. Anti-Streptococcus pneumoniae omniserum against 90 serotypes (pneumococcal omniserum) from Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark [9] and anti-Haemophilus influenzae type b produced according to routine procedure [10] were employed in the immunological methods.…”

“…The pellet was dissolved in 0.5 mL of sterile distilled water plus 0.5 mL of 0.1 M sodium EDTA pH 7.5, followed by heat-treatment (waterbath,100°C/10 min). After new centrifugation (2,500 rpm/15 min), the supernatant was stored until use in the immunological tests [4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…Immunological assays have been employed to detect bacterial antigens of S. pneumoniae and/ or H. influenzae type b, the most common bacteria causing pneumonia. The polysaccharide antigens have been detected in serum, urine, and/or pleural fluid samples from infants and children with suspected bacterial pneumonia [4][5][6][7][8].…”