What does an elevated complete blood count (CBC) + C-reactive protein (CRP) indicate?
Disease description:
During my physical examination, my complete blood count (CBC) + C-reactive protein (CRP) test results were elevated. What does an elevated CBC + CRP indicate?
Doctor's answer (2)
Dr. Xu Min
The routine blood test revealed an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level, suggesting a bacterial infection. Respiratory or urinary tract infections are the most common causes, though bacterial inflammation in other sites is also possible. Treatment must be tailored to the clinical presentation. Elevated CRP serves as an inflammatory marker, confirming the presence of bacterial infection. Antibiotic therapy should be initiated, selecting agents appropriate for the suspected site and system of infection, ideally guided by culture and sensitivity testing.
