Abstract：Objective To explore the role of procalcitonin(PCT) and time to blood culture positivity (TTP) in evaluating the severity of bacteremia among febrile patients and the clinical implications. Methods 173 hospitalized patients who were positive in bacterial culture and treated between May 2014 and April 2016, were enrolled in this study and detected with PCT . These patients were divided into two groups: fever group(n=139) and non-fever group (n=34); The fever group was further divided into low, medium, high and ultra-high fever groups. PCT and TTP were statistically analyzed and compared between the two groups.Results The mean values of PCT and TTP were 3.41 ng/ml and13.81 h, respectively, in fever group, but 1.83 ng/ml and 22.79 h, respectively, in non-fever group. Serum PCT level of fever group was higher than that of non-fever group, but TTP of fever group was lower. PCT and TTP were significantly different between fever and non-fever groups (P<0.05). The mean values of PCT in four fever groups were 2.16 ng/ml, 2.41 ng/ml, 3.65 ng/ml and 4.03 ng/ml respectively. PCT level tended to increase from low fever to ultra-high fever groups. There was significant difference between these fever groups (P<0.05). The mean values of TTP in four fever groups were 27.35 h, 22.60 h, 13.27 h and 10.46 h respectively.There was significant difference between these fever groups (P<0.01).Conclusions PCT is positively associated with bacteremia infection levels of febrile patients, while TTP is negatively associated. PCT and TTP values can play an important role in predicting the level of bacteremia infection .
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2016, Vol. 27 
