The initial median CRP value of the patients without infection (20.6 [IQR 6,2–32.7] mg/dl) was not significantly different to the median CRP value of the group with local infection (7.7 [IQR 4–14] mg/dl; P = 0.23) and also compared to the group with systemic infection (26.9 [IQR 15–44.9] mg/l; P = 0.31) (Fig. 1). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is infection.