| C-Reactive Protein and Duration of Antibiotic Therapy in Neonatal Bacterial Infection |
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Jae Il Yoo, Jin Hwa Jeong, Jeong Ho Lee, Jong Dae Cho |
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Department of Pediatrics, Maryknoll Hospital, Pusan, Korea |
| 신생아 감염에서 C-Reactive Protein과 항생제 투여 기간과의 관계 |
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유재일, 정진화, 이정호, 조종대 |
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부산 메리놀병원 소아과 |
Correspondence:
Jae Il Yoo, Email: 1
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: To determine whether C-reactive protein(CRP) can be used as a parameter to assess the safety of discontinuing antibiotic therapy and allows a shorter course of therapy in neonates treated for suspected bacterial infection.
Methods
: We have experienced 193 cases of suspected neonatal bacterial infection at Pusan Maryknoll Hospital. CRP levels were measured daily by immunonephelometry. Infants with initial CRP levels less than 0.8mg/dL were considered unlikely to be infected, and antibiotic therapy was stopped(group A; n=82). If three daily serial CRP levels were less than 0.8mg/dL, antibiotics were discontinued(group B; n=51). Sixty cases were treated for at least 7 days irrespective of CRP results(group C; n=60), and relapse rates of bacterial infection were compared between the three groups within one month after discharge.
Results
: Within the one month follow-up period, two infants(2.4%) in group A, one infant(1.3%) in group B, two infants(3.3%) in group C received antibiotics for possible relapse of bacterial infection. The relapse rate in these groups was very low and frequency of a second course of antibiotic therapy between these groups was not different.
Conclusion
: These data allow considerably shorter courses of antibiotic therapy, safe discontinuation by three serial CRP measurement and show that CRP can be a key parameter for guiding the duration of antibiotic treatment. In addition, it would cut the length and cost of hospital stays and diminish the side effects of parenteral antibiotics. |
| Key Words:
C-reactive protein, Neonatal bacterial infection |
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