C-Reactive Protein — a key acute-phase reactant produced by the liver — serves as a sensitive biomarker for inflammation, infection, and tissue damage.When the body faces infection or injury, CRP levels rise rapidly, helping activate complement and enhance phagocytosis — the body’s way of clearing pathogens and damaged cells. Why CRP Matters Bacterial vs. viral infections: CRP increases sharply in bacterial infections but only slightly in viral ones — aiding in infection diff