Emergency Medicine: Open Access
Open Access

Chih-Wei Chen

Publications

• Research Article
  Surgical Site Infection Following Spine Surgery: Diagnostic Potential of CRP, ESR, and WBC in Predicting Infection
  Author(s): Chih-Wei Chen, Varun Puvanesarajah, Sheng-fu L Lo, En-Hsuan Wu, Wen-Tsan Chang, Chung-Ching Chio and Tain-Junn Cheng Chih-Wei Chen, Varun Puvanesarajah, Sheng-fu L Lo, En-Hsuan Wu, Wen-Tsan Chang, Chung-Ching Chio and Tain-Junn Cheng
  
  Early surgical site infection (SSI) detection could save costs and prevent morbidity. Our aim is to evaluate whether C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leukocyte count (WBC), or high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) measurements could effectively predict a SSI, and establish a low-cost method for early diagnosis. This prospective study was conducted at Chi-Mei Medical Center from January 2004 to December 2005. Eligible spinal surgery patients received CRP, ESR, WBC, and hsCRP measurements at pre-specified days. SSI was identified using definitions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance. Eighty-five patients were enrolled. Four patients experienced SSIs (4.71%). CRP and hsCRP levels from day 2 to 14 demonstrated statistically significantly higher in SSI patients (P<0.001). A threshold CRP value of 25.. View More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2165-7548.1000277

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