The Value of sTREM-1, PCT, and CRP as Markers for the Detection of Sepsis and Bacteremia Among Patients With a FUO

Inclusion Criteria: * Male and female aged 18 years old and over; * Clinically suspected infection; * Fulfilled at least two criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (a) core temperature higher than 38 °C or lower than 36 °C (b)respiratory rate above 20/min, or PCO2 below 32 mmHg (c) pulse rate above 90/min, and (d) white blood cell count greater than 12,000/μl or lower than \< 4,000/μl or less than 10% of bands; * Blood borne infections were diagnosed if the following criteria were met.(1) The blood culture tested positive at least for the same pathogen;(2) The patient had at least one of the following symptoms: fever, shivering, or low blood pressure and showed signs of at least one of the following conditions: the blood culture tested positive at least twice for common skin flora from different sites; the blood culture tested positive only once for the skin flora listed above, the intravascular catheter culture tested positive for the same pathogen and the correct antibiotic treatment had been initiated for the patient; or a positive serology test consistent with other clinical laboratory test results and unrelated to infections at different sites. Exclusion Criteria: Those who fulfilled one below: * neutropenia (≤ 500 neutrophils/mm3) * HIV infection, and * patients or their relatives refused