Table 2.

Analysis of the predictive value of admission inflammatory marker levels in patients with spinal infection. (Organism identification from either blood culture or biopsy)

	Isolation of an organism with increased CRP	Isolation of an organism with increased WCC
Sensitivity	37.0%	88.9%
Specificity	98.5%	54.4%
PPV	90.9%	43.6%
NPV	79.0%	92.5%
Likelihood ratio	24.10	1.95
p-value*	<0.0001	0.0001

CRP = C-reactive protein; WCC = white cell count; PPV = positive predictive value; NPV = negative predictive value

^*Fisher’s exact test