Costo-Efectividad de la Proteína C Reactiva, Procalcitonina y Escala de Rochester: Tres Estrategias Diagnosticas para la Identificación de Infección Bacteriana Severa en Lactantes Febriles sin Foco

Abstract

C reactive protein is the strategy more cost-effective to detect SBI in children with Fever without Source in Argentina. Due to low proportion of correctly diagnosed cases (< 80%) of three tests in the literature and our study, however; an individualized approach for children with fever is still necessary to optimize diagnostic investigations and treatment in the different emergency care settings.

Cost-effectiveness of procalcitonin for detection of serious bacterial infections in children presenting with fever without source

“…The panorama in the comparative studies, where most patients come after 4–6 h of the start of symptoms, is not different from the real life providing greater external validity to our results [ 24 ]. We previously published an economic evaluation of these same three tests in Argentina in 2013 [ 7 ]. This study found small differences between CPR and PCT with respect to their cost-effectiveness.…”

“…PCT offers better specificity than CRP to detect SBI with an early detection possible of SBI if the evolution of the fever is < 12 h [ 6 ]. However, their cost limited their use in developing countries [ 7 , 8 ]. Economic evaluations are tools that provide objective information to decision-makers regarding the inclusion of new diagnostic tests in health insurance plans.…”