Estimated C-reactive protein (CRP) velocity for rapidly distinguishing bacterial from other etiologies in children presenting to emergency department with remarkably elevated CRP levels

Abstract

Purpose The use of a single C-reactive protein (CRP) value to differentiate between bacterial and non-bacterial causes is limited. Estimated CRP velocity (eCRPv) has shown promise in enhancing such discrimination in adults. This study aims to investigate the association between eCRPv and bacterial etiologies among pediatric patients with very elevated CRP levels. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients under 18 years of age who had been admitted to our Pediatric Emergency Department from 2018 to 2020 with a fever and CRP levels ≥ 150 mg/L. Bacterial and non-bacterial etiologies were determined from hospital discharge diagnoses, which were monitored independently by 3 physicians from the research team. Results The records of 495 suitable patients (51.2% males, median age 3.2 years) were retrieved of whom 444 (89.7%) were eventually diagnosed with bacterial infections. The mean CRP levels were significantly higher for bacterial etiologies compared with other causes (209.2 ± 59.8 mg/L vs. 185.6 ± 35.8 mg/L, respectively, p < .001), while the mean eCRPv values did not differ significantly (p = .15). In a time course analysis, we found that specifically in patients presenting ≥ 72 hours after symptom onset, only a eCRPv1 level > 1.08 mg/L/h was an independent predictor of bacterial infection (aOR = 5.5 [95% CI: 1.7–17.8], p = .004). Conclusions Pediatric patients with very high CRP levels and fever mostly have bacterial infections. eCRPv levels, unlike CRP values alone, can serve as the sole independent predictor of bacterial infection > 72 hours from symptom onset, warranting further prospective investigations into CRP kinetics in pediatric patients.