Role of procalcitonin and c-reactive protein levels: a diagnostic tool in lower respiratory tract infections.

Background: Conventional biomarkers lack sensitivity and specificity for acute pulmonary Community (PAC). Procalcitonin (PCT) has been described in the literature for its usefulness in the PAC. The aim of our work was to study the contribution of the PCT in the positive diagnosis of PAC and in the initial assessment of the severity and the interest of CRP and PCT to distinguish lung infections from tuberculous origin of the PAC.