C-reactive Protein Leukocytes and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate as Identificators of Invasive Bacterial Infections

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the usefulness of leukocytes, CRP, and ESR in the identification of invasive bacterial infections in children. We have prospectively evaluated 705 patients divided into two groups: 1) group A with 110 patients having invasive bacterial infections and 2) group B with localized bacterial infections comprising 595 patients. Mean values for leukocytes were 12536/mm3 ± 6642 for invasive bacterial infections versus 11263/mm3 ± 5285 for localized bacterial infections (p < 0.0336). The mean ESR for invasive infections was 31.13 mm/hr ± 29.11 versus 25.94 mm/hr ± 22.93 for localized infections (p < 0.08). The mean CRP for invasive infections was 25.45 mg/dl ± 42.57 versus 13.58 mg/dl ± 24.10 (p < 0.04) for localized bacterial one. This study suggests that CRP, ESR, and leukocytes are good indicators in the diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections.