Publication:

Procalcitonin as a marker for the diagnosis of sepsis

Background Quick diagnosis of sepsis in intensive care unit patients is challenging for physicians.

Methods The prospective study was conducted at our hospital. We studied the efficacy of procalcitonin as a marker of sepsis in 87 adults admitted to our intensive care unit with symptoms of systemic infection. The study samples included all patients aged above 18 years with acute sepsis. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS. PCT and various other relevant factors were measured in all study subjects. PCT levels of less than 0.1 ng/ml were considered negative; all other levels were considered positive.

Results PCT proved to be an excellent indicator of sepsis. Serum PCT levels predicts mortality in the present study.

Conclusions PCT is among the most promising sepsis markers capable of completing clinical signs and routine lab parameters suggestive of severe infection.