Journal
INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE
Volume 37, Issue 5, Pages 796-800Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00134-011-2189-1
Keywords
Procalcitonin; Pneumonia; A/H1N1v influenza; Bacterial infection
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Funding
- Societe de Reanimation de Langue Francaise (SRLF)
- French Research Agency (ANRS)
- French Ministry of Health
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To determine whether procalcitonin (PCT) levels could help discriminate isolated viral from mixed (bacterial and viral) pneumonia in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the A/H1N1v2009 influenza pandemic. A retrospective observational study was performed in 23 French ICUs during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Levels of PCT at admission were compared between patients with confirmed influenzae A pneumonia associated or not associated with a bacterial co-infection. Of 103 patients with confirmed A/H1N1 infection and not having received prior antibiotics, 48 (46.6%; 95% CI 37-56%) had a documented bacterial co-infection, mostly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (54%) or Staphylococcus aureus (31%). Fifty-two patients had PCT measured on admission, including 19 (37%) having bacterial co-infection. Median (range 25-75%) values of PCT were significantly higher in patients with bacterial co-infection: 29.5 (3.9-45.3) versus 0.5 (0.12-2) mu g/l (P < 0.01). For a cut-off of 0.8 mu g/l or more, the sensitivity and specificity of PCT for distinguishing isolated viral from mixed pneumonia were 91 and 68%, respectively. Alveolar condensation combined with a PCT level of 0.8 mu g/l or more was strongly associated with bacterial co-infection (OR 12.9, 95% CI 3.2-51.5; P < 0.001). PCT may help discriminate viral from mixed pneumonia during the influenza season. Levels of PCT less than 0.8 mu g/l combined with clinical judgment suggest that bacterial infection is unlikely.
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