C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AS PRIMARY LABORATORY INDICATOR OF INFECTION IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

Introduction: C reactive Protein (CRP) is the acute phase reactant which is secreted from liver and its level rises within 12 hr of onset of initial stimulus of infective or inflammatory origin. Testing of CRP value has been widely used as indicator tool to detect early infection along with other laboratory tests. Materials and Methods: This present study was aimed to analyze the different values of CRP in correlation with WBC count and blood culture in selected patients. Samples of pediatric patients aged less than 1 year were included in this study. Total 191 samples were analyzed retrospectively received in microbiology laboratory for CRP testing by standard methods. Data of CRP values were summarized on the basis of demographic variables and other laboratory tests. Results: Out of 191 samples, CRP test was positive in 46 (24.08%) patients showed positive response with mean CRP value of 8.03mg/dl. Out of all age group, highest samples were from early neonate age group (0-7days) which shows 21.42% positive ratio. Out of positive samples majority of samples (22) were having CRP value 0.6 -4.8 mg/dl. Majority of positive samples were having abnormal CRP value either in terms of leukopenia or leukocytosis. Out of 57 blood culture samples received, 23 shows positive bacterial growth. Conclusion: Testing of CRP has been widely used as one of most sensitive indicator of infection detection. Serial measurement of CRP value can also be utilized as prognostic indicator to detect response of treatment. Rather than using single parameter, result should always correlate with other laboratory parameters