One biomarker does not fit all: tailoring anti-infective therapy through utilization of procalcitonin and other specific biomarkers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Considering the ongoing increase in antibiotic resistance, the importance of judicious use of antibiotics through reduction of exposure is crucial. Adding procalcitonin (PCT) and other biomarkers to pathogen-specific tests may help to further improve antibiotic therapy algorithms and advance antibiotic stewardship programs to achieve these goals. Areas covered In recent years, several trials have investigated the inclusion of biomarkers such as PCT into clinical decision-making algorithms. For adult patients, findings demonstrated improvements in the individualization of antibiotic treatment, particularly for patients with respiratory tract infections and sepsis. While most trials were performed in hospitals with central laboratories, point-of-care testing might further advance the field by providing a cost-effective and rapid diagnostic tool in upcoming years. Furthermore, novel biomarkers including CD-64, presepsin, Pancreatic stone and sTREM-1, have all shown promising results for increased accuracy of sepsis diagnosis. Availability of these markers however is currently still limited and there is insufficient evidence for their routine use in clinical care. Expert opinion In addition to new host-response markers, combining such biomarkers with pathogen-directed diagnostics present a promising strategy to increase algorithm accuracy in differentiating between bacterial and viral infections. Recent advances in microbiologic testing using PCR or nucleic amplification tests may further improve the diagnostic yield and promote more targeted pathogen-specific antibiotic therapy.