Diagnostic Accuracy of Procalcitonin Compared to C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin 6 in Recognizing Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection: A Meta-Analytic Study
Table 2
Subgroup and metaregression analysis for PCT.
Covariate
Category
Study
n
AUC (95% CI)
Pooled sensitivity (95% CI)
Pooled specificity (95% CI)
1 (for threshold)
2 (for accuracy)
Covariates of medical contexts
BSI type
GN VS GP
11
2639
0.82 (0.79-0.85)
0.77 (0.70-0.83)
0.74 (0.63-0.83)
0.157
0.157
Others
14
48294
0.78 (0.74-0.81)
0.65 (0.58-0.71)
0.77 (0.72-0.81)
Culture
Positive culture only
16
3593
0.81 (0.78-0.85)
0.75 (0.69-0.80)
0.75 (0.67-0.82)
0.317
0.107
Others
9
47340
0.75 (0.71-0.79)
0.61 (0.52-0.69)
0.76 (0.70-0.81)
Sepsis status
Sepsis only
13
7424
0.82 (0.79-085)
0.76 (0.70-0.81)
0.75 (0.66-0.82)
0.403
0.157
Others
12
43509
0.76 (0.72-0.80)
0.63 (0.55-0.71)
0.77 (0.70-0.82)
Hematological malignancy
Hematological malignancy only
7
6628
0.69 (0.65-0.73)
0.52 (0.46-0.59)
0.79 (0.74-0.83)
0.273
0.032
Others
18
44305
0.80 (0.77-0.84)
0.75 (0.70-0.79)
0.74 (0.67-0.80)
Febrile neutropenia status
Febrile neutropenia only
5
691
0.69 (0.65-0.73)
0.57 (0.50-0.64)
0.81 (0.76-0.85)
1.000
0.752
Others
20
50242
0.80 (0.76-0.83)
0.73 (0.67-0.78)
0.74 (0.68-0.80)
Covariates of demographical features
Region
Europe
12
41836
0.77 (0.74-0.81)
0.69 (0.64-0.73)
0.78 (0.72-0.83)
0.317
0.752
East Asia
13
9097
0.80 (0.76-0.83)
0.74 (0.64-0.81)
0.74 (0.65-0.81)
Setting
ICU only
6
5590
0.82 (0.78-0.85)
0.76 (0.69-0.82)
0.76 (0.63-0.86)
0.237
0.221
Others
19
45343
0.78 (0.75-0.82)
0.69 (0.62-0.75)
0.76 (0.70-0.81)
Population
Adult only
19
8777
0.81 (0.77-0.84)
0.74 (0.69-0.78)
0.77 (0.72-0.82)
0.043
0.048
Others
6
42156
0.74 (0.70-0.77)
0.60 (0.48-0.70)
0.73 (0.67-0.78)
Other covariates
PCT assay method
VIDAS
8
7538
0.75 (0.71-0.79)
0.70 (0.64-0.76)
0.70 (0.60-0.79)
0.091
0.150
KRYPTOR
5
35957
0.76 (0.72-0.79)
0.75 (0.68-0.81)
0.65 (0.58-0.72)
ECLIA
8
4355
0.87 (0.84-0.90)
0.75 (0.59-0.86)
0.84 (0.77-0.90)
Sample
Serum
16
14610
0.79 (0.75-0.82)
0.70 (0.62-0.76)
0.75 (0.68-0.80)
0.129
0.192
Plasma
9
36323
0.79 (0.75-0.82)
0.73 (0.68-0.77)
0.78 (0.68-0.85)
Subgroup and metaregression analysis of covariates. : value for likelihood ratio test assessing impact of covariates on threshold; : value for likelihood ratio test assessing impact of covariates on accuracy. AUC: area under summary receiver operating characteristic curve; CI: confidence interval; BSI: bloodstream infection; GN: Gram-negative bloodstream infection; GP: Gram-positive bloodstream infection; PCT: procalcitonin; ECLIA: electrochemiluminescence immunoassay; ICU: intensive care unit. .
