High pneumococcal DNA load, procalcitonin and suPAR levels correlate to severe disease development in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia

Authors assessed several markers of infection (pneumococcal DNA load in blood (real–time LytA PCR), white blood cell (WBC) count, C–reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels) for their ability to predict severe disease development in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia. Patients with community–acquired pneumonia (CAP) having higher pneumococcal DNA load, PCT and suPAR values seemed to be at increased risk of developing severe disease (ICU admission and/or death). These biomarkers could be useful tools for triage of patients suspected of having CAP in the emergency department.

Read the full article on European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.