Blood test could shorten hospital stays for children with cancer (Common procalcitonin test can safely cut seven day stay down to eight hours)

Medical Xpress / University of York / BMJ Paediatrics Open ^ | Mar. 19, 2022 | Jessica Elizabeth Morgan et al

[ConservativeMind]

A new blood test could help to safely cut hospital stays for children with cancer who develop a fever, a new study has shown.

The study reveals the blood test can help doctors to distinguish between children whose fever is a sign of serious illness and those who are safe to go home.

High temperatures are common in children undergoing treatment for cancer due to their lowered immune system. The commonest approach in the NHS is to keep children in hospital for up to a week while antibiotics are administered in case the fever is a symptom of a serious infection like sepsis.

Enormous difference

The results of the study show that using the blood test in combination with a new protocol to identify children that are safe to go home, cuts their average stay in hospital down to two days, with some able to leave in as little as eight hours.

The authors of the study say this change will make an enormous difference to children with cancer and their families, easing mental health and financial burdens.

The test diagnoses serious infections by looking at levels of the biomarker procalcitonin in the blood. Those children with low levels often had their antibiotics stopped more quickly and went home earlier.

Promising results

Dr. Bob Phillips from the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York and Hull York Medical School, said: "Frequent fevers are a distressing and sometimes life-threatening complication of childhood cancer. Our study shows that procalcitonin blood tests could make a big difference to children who don't have a serious infection, allowing them to go home earlier to be with their families, cutting unnecessary treatment with antibiotics and reducing an already intense mental and physical toll.

[ConservativeMind]

I am not sure why this test has not had prior formal guidance provided for early use with children, because it is a common test, as least for adults

Perhaps it’s normally used only when sepsis is strongly evident.

[ConservativeMind]

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This potentially high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to implement for your benefit.

Now keeping a new list (“Common Issues”) for conditions expected to only concern at least 1% of the population. Ask to be on either the “Common Issues” or “Everything” list.

Please email or private message me if you want on or off of a list and of which list you desire.