Abstract
Introduction: Procalcitonin (PCT) is produced by thyroid and neuro-endocrine cells of the lung and the intestine. Measurement of PCT can be used as a marker of severe sepsis caused by bacteria and generally grades well with the degree of sepsis. PCT is used increasingly as a marker of bacterial infection, with PCT >2 ng/mL advocated as an indicator to initiate antibiotics in patients with presumed infection. However, not every elevated PCT is an infection. Case: 49 year-old women presented in July with fever, nausea, vomiting, confusion, headache, light-headedness, neck stiffness and abdominal pain for one day. Her past medical, family and social history were non-contributory. Examina - tion revealed fever (99.5 °F), tachycardia (pulse 115/min) and dry oral mucosa.
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