Measurement of serum procalcitonin in patients with swine flu (H1N1)

Measurement of serum level of procalcitonin in patients with H1N1 influenza could decrease the consumption of unnecessary antibiotics. This study aimed to determine the serum levels of procalcitonin in patients with swine flu (H1N1) in the Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord in 2011. In this cross-sectional study patients presenting with clinical manifestations of influenza (chest pain، low blood pressure، cough، myalgia)، were enrolled. Blood and pharyngeal specimens were collected and swine flu confirmed by PCR (Institute Pasteur Tehran); serum level of procalcitonin was measured by chromatography (Brahms، Germany) and recorded in ng/ml. Levels of 2ng/ml were considered as a marker for severe disease with bacterial infection. From 140 patients with suspected swine flu، 61 (43. 6%) were infected with swine flu، of which (54. 1%) were female. Level of serum procalcitonin was <0. 5ng/ml، 0. 5-2ng/ml and 2-10ng/ml in (72. 1%)، (18%) and (9. 8%)، respectively، revealing that nearly 10% of patients had accompanying bacterial infections. Procalcitonin serum level measurement could be valuable in differentiating bacterial from viral infections.