The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum procalcitonin (PCT) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in the initial investigation of patients acute hospitalized with suspected community-acquired-pneumonia (CAP)
Target pneumonia treatment should be initiated within a few hours, which is why early and accurate diagnosis is extremely important. Uncertain or delayed diagnosis will often lead to an overconsumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which contributes to increased development of resistant bacteria and thus threaten the treatment options of the future. Pneumonia diagnosis is primarily made today on the basis of clinical symptoms and findings in the form of cough, vomiting, chest pain, fever, shortness of breath, supplemented with X-ray of the lungs, relevant blood tests and analysis of expectoration. However, X-ray is an imprecise diagnostic tool. The diagnosis of CAP is challenged by nonspecific symptoms, uncertain diagnostic methods and waiting time for test results up to several days. Therefore, numerous studies have investigated biomarkers that can possibly support the diagnosis of CAP. C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum procalcitonin (PCT) are biomarkers that may distinguish CAP from other causes of acute respiratory infections. The CRP biomarker has been endorsed as a guide for antibiotic treatment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and PCT was suggested by the American Infectious Diseases Society of America. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has emerged as a potentially novel biomarker for inflammatory diseases including pneumonia. Several studies have highlighted suPAR as a significant prognostic mortality marker and strongly related to disease severity and worse outcome in a variety of conditions. It is also a promising biological marker in the diagnosis of CAP. The diagnostic value of the optimal biomarkers for the diagnosis of CAP remains controversial. The investigators hypothesize that serum CRP, PTC and suPAR have an impact on diagnosing, prognosis, and treatment of patients with a verified community-acquired-pneumonia. The objectives of the study are: * To identify the diagnostic accuracy of CRP, PCT and suPAR in community-acquired pneumonia * To identify the prognostic value of CRP, PCT and suPAR in relation to adverse events
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
411
Serum PCT concentration is quantified with an automated sandwich immunoassay "ECLIA" (Elecsys®, BRAHMS PCT-analyses) on Cobas e801. Calibration (BRAHMS PCT LIA assay) is performed once per reagent lot and no later than 24 h after Cobas e pack has been registered in the instrument. Quality control is performed after each calibration.
Serum suPAR was measured using suPARnostic© Turbilatex assay reagents (validated on Cobas© c111) protocol for Cobas© c702 and c502 applying the Multi-Pack cassettes (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Calibration is performed at least once a month or in connection to a new batch of TurbiLatex reagents, after calibration a quality control is performed.
Standard care is the measurement of CRP (C-reactive protein) will be measured with C - reactive protein (CRP4) immunoturbidimetric assay (Tina-quant®, Roche) on Roche/Hitachi cobas© systems c701/702. Calibration is performed (Tina-quant® C - reactive protein IV) once per reagent lot and after 6 months using the same reagent lot. Quality control is required after calibration and according manufacturing instructions.
Hospital of Southern Jutland
Aabenraa, Denmark
Diagnostic of community acquired pneumonia
The percentage of patients diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia determined by an expert panel. This outcome measure is a binary variable - verified pneumonia or no pneumonia. The expert panel consists of two independent consultants from the emergency department with experience in infection and emergency medicine, who individually will determine whether the patient admitted with suspected community-acquired pneumonia, had the diagnosis. The diagnosis will be based on all available relevant information from the patient medical record within 48 hours from admission including computed tomography. A standardized template will be used. Disagreement will be discussed until a consensus is reached. .
Time frame: expert assessment within 3 months after patient discharge from the hospital
Intensive care unit (ICU) treatment
Transfer to the intensive care unit will be recorded during the current hospitalization as a binary variable (transferred/not-transferred)
Time frame: within 60 days from admission to the emergency department
Length of hospital stay (LOS
Defined as the time (in days) spent in hospital during the current admission. Measured in days from admission to hospital discharge. Discharge date minus admission date.
Time frame: within 60 days from current admission to the emergency department
30-days mortality
Mortality within 30 days from admission to the Emergency Department
Time frame: 30 days from the admission to the emergency department
90-days mortality
Mortality within 90 days from admission to the Emergency Department
Time frame: 90 days from the admission to the emergency department
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Readmission
If a subject is admitted over a 30 day period after the current hospitalization discharge measured as a binary outcome Re-admissions/not re-admissions
Time frame: within 30 days from the discharge to the hospital
In-hospital mortality
Patient mortality during the current hospitalization. Binary outcome - Died/ Not died
Time frame: within 60 days from admission to the emergency department