RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Serial concentrations of C-reactive protein as an indicator of urinary tract infection in patients with spinal injury.
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 851
OP 855
DO 10.1136/jcp.39.8.851
VO 39
IS 8
A1 A Galloway
A1 H T Green
A1 J J Windsor
A1 K K Menon
A1 B P Gardner
A1 K R Krishnan
YR 1986
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/39/8/851.abstract
AB C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured serially in 16 patients with an acute spinal injury. Twelve episodes of acute urinary tract infection (UTI) occurred during the study period. These were all associated with an increased concentration of CRP greater than 50 mg/l, which returned to normal after successful treatment. Thirteen episodes of asymptomatic bacteriuria associated with increased concentrations of CRP greater than 20 mg/l occurred, indicating tissue damage. More commonly, significant bacteriuria was associated with normal concentrations of CRP, and presumably, simple colonisation of the urinary tract, which, we suggest, does not require treatment with antibiotics. Serial measurement of CRP in patients with spinal injury may help distinguish between urinary tract colonisation and infection and be useful in monitoring the response to the treatment of clinical UTI.