Bavare A, Rissmiller B, Devaraj S, et al. - Whether perioperative profiles of procalcitonin (PCT) have utility in predicting infection in children undergoing cardiac or neurosurgery (two pediatric surgical populations), was determined in this prospective observational study. Plasma PCT concentrations were measured within 24 h preprocedure and 24-48 h postprocedure. Findings demonstrated the usefulness of PCT as an early biomarker of postoperative infection in these two pediatric surgical populations. A significantly higher perioperative PCT increase was detected in patients who received cardiac surgery vs those who received neurosurgery, and at least 2-fold perioperative PCT rise was exhibited by all patients with subsequently confirmed infections.