Patterns of C-reactive protein ratio predicts outcomes in healthcare-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients with cancer

Abstract Purpose Describe the patterns of C-reactive protein relative changes in response to antibiotic therapy in critically ill cancer patients with healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) and its ability to predict outcome. Methods Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of critically ill cancer patients with HCAP. CRP was sampled every other day from D0 to D6 of antibiotic therapy. Patients were classified according to an individual pattern of CRP-ratio response: fast – CRP at D4 of therapy was Results 129 patients were included and septic shock was present in 74% and invasive mechanical ventilation was used in 73%. Intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality rates were 47% and 64%, respectively. By D4, both CRP and CRP-ratio of survivors were significantly lower than in nonsurvivors (p  Conclusion CRP-ratio was useful in the early prediction of poor outcomes in cancer patients with HCAP.