Procalcitonin as diagnostic biomarker of sepsis

Abstract

Procalcitonin is a peptide released in response to proinflammatory stimuli, particularly bacteria-associated inflammatory mediators. 1 Becker KL Nylén ES White JC Müller B Snider Jr, RH Procalcitonin and the calcitonin gene family of peptides in inflammation, infection, and sepsis: a journey from calcitonin back to its precursors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004; 89: 1512-1525 Crossref PubMed Scopus (394) Google Scholar At present, procalcitonin is a biomarker for infection most used in hospitals and seems to have a higher diagnostic accuracy than other traditional biomarkers of inflammation. 2 Reinhart K Bauer M Riedemann NC Hartog CS New approaches to sepsis: molecular diagnostics and biomarkers. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012; 25: 609-634 Crossref PubMed Scopus (325) Google Scholar Particularly, procalcitonin has attracted a great deal of attention as a potential means to guide antibiotic stewardship, reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use and associated resistance. 3 Harbarth S Albrich WC Müller B When once is not enough—further evidence of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic stewardship. Crit Care. 2009; 13: 165 Crossref PubMed Scopus (9) Google Scholar Procalcitonin as a diagnostic marker for sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysisProcalcitonin is a helpful biomarker for early diagnosis of sepsis in critically ill patients. Nevertheless, the results of the test must be interpreted carefully in the context of medical history, physical examination, and microbiological assessment. Full-Text PDF