Diagnostic and prognostic value of procalcitonin for early intracranial infection after craniotomy

Intracranial infection is a common clinical complication after craniotomy. We aimed to explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of dynamic changing procalcitonin (PCT) in early intracranial infection after craniotomy. A prospective study was performed on 93 patients suspected of intracranial infection after craniotomy. Routine peripheral venous blood was collected on the day of admission, and C reactive protein (CRP) and PCT levels were measured. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected for routine biochemical, PCT and culture assessment. Serum and CSF analysis continued on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The patients were divided into intracranial infection group and non-intracranial infection group; intracranial infection group was further divided into infection controlled group and infection uncontrolled group. Thirty-five patients were confirmed with intracranial infection after craniotomy according to the diagnostic criteria. The serum and cerebrospinal fluid PCT levels in the infected group were significantly higher than the non-infected group on day 1 (P颅内感染是开颅术后常见的临床并发症。本研究旨在探讨动态变化的降钙素原（procalcitonin, PCT）对开颅术后早期颅内感染的诊断及预后价值。本研究对93例开颅术后疑似颅内感染患者开展前瞻性研究。入院当日采集常规外周静脉血，检测C反应蛋白（C reactive protein, CRP）与降钙素原水平；同时采集脑脊液（cerebrospinal fluid, CSF）进行常规生化、降钙素原及培养检测。分别于术后第1、2、3、5、7、9、11日持续开展血清与脑脊液相关检测。将所有患者划分为颅内感染组与非颅内感染组；其中颅内感染组进一步分为感染控制组与感染未控制组。依据诊断标准，最终共有35例患者确诊为开颅术后颅内感染。感染组患者术后第1日的血清与脑脊液降钙素原水平显著高于非感染组（P