Measurement of biochemical markers
All the serum samples were obtained within the first 2 days of the onset
of their symptoms. Further, the patients’ biochemical and hematological
parameters were tested on admission, in the laboratory of the our
hospital. Procalcitonin levels were tested with commercial ELISA kits
(Elecsys BRAHMS PCT, Roche, Mannheim, Germany), according to the
manufacturer’s recommendations.