Procalcitonin: Where Are We Now?

Bachar Hamade; David T Huang

doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2019.08.003

Procalcitonin: Where Are We Now?

Crit Care Clin. 2020 Jan;36(1):23-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2019.08.003. Epub 2019 Oct 21.

Authors

Bachar Hamade¹, David T Huang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, 2nd Floor, Cairo Street, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3550 Terrace Street, Room 651, Scaife Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
² Departments of Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, The MACRO (Multidisciplinary Acute Care Research Organization) and CRISMA (Clinical Research, Investigation, and Systems Modeling of Acute illness) Centers, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street, Room 606B, Scaife Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: huangdt@upmc.edu.

Abstract

Procalcitonin is a biomarker that is generally elevated in bacterial infections. This review describes a conceptual framework for biomarkers using lessons from the history of troponin, applies this framework to procalcitonin with a review of observational studies and randomized trials in and out of the intensive care unit, and concludes with clinical recommendations and thoughts on how to test a test.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Mortality; Procalcitonin; Respiratory tract infection; Sepsis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
Biomarkers / blood*
Humans
Procalcitonin / blood*
Respiratory Tract Infections / blood
Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis*
Respiratory Tract Infections / drug therapy*
Sepsis / blood
Sepsis / diagnosis*
Sepsis / drug therapy*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biomarkers
Procalcitonin

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding