Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 1;34(2):126-134. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000707.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Biomarkers, mainly procalcitonin, are commonly used in sepsis diagnosis, prognosis and treatment follow-up. This review summarizes the potential benefit of their use for the critically ill.
RECENT FINDINGS: Increased clinical evidence from randomized clinical trials of biomarker-guided treatment suggests a trend for appropriate but short antimicrobial treatment for the critically ill. Procalcitonin (PCT) is the most studied biomarker; in the majority of randomized clinical trials, the use of a stopping rule of antibiotics on the day when PCT is below 80% from baseline or less than 0.5 ng/ml was proven effective to reduce length of antimicrobial treatment, antibiotic-associated adverse events and infectious complications like infections by multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile. Survival benefit was also noted.
SUMMARY: Biomarkers, mainly PCT, may help improve sepsis outcome by restriction of injudicious antimicrobial use.
PMID:33534419 | DOI:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000707