Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection. It is difficult to diagnose but prompt treatment is important to prevent serious complications like organ failure and death. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that has been shown to help diagnose sepsis and guide antibiotic treatment decisions. PCT levels rise more significantly in response to bacterial infections compared to other conditions. Several studies have found that using PCT levels to guide antibiotic therapy can reduce antibiotic use without worsening outcomes for patients with sepsis. While PCT is not a perfect diagnostic tool, it provides useful information when interpreted together with a patient's full clinical picture.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection. It is difficult to diagnose but prompt treatment is important to prevent serious complications like organ failure and death. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that has been shown to help diagnose sepsis and guide antibiotic treatment decisions. PCT levels rise more significantly in response to bacterial infections compared to other conditions. Several studies have found that using PCT levels to guide antibiotic therapy can reduce antibiotic use without worsening outcomes for patients with sepsis. While PCT is not a perfect diagnostic tool, it provides useful information when interpreted together with a patient's full clinical picture.
The third international consensus definitions for sepsis and septic shock (se...Daniela Botero Echeverri
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The document summarizes the process undertaken by an international task force to update the definitions of sepsis and septic shock based on advances in understanding of the pathobiology of sepsis since the prior definitions from 2001. The task force developed new definitions of sepsis as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, and of septic shock as a subset of sepsis with profound circulatory and metabolic abnormalities. Clinical criteria including changes in SOFA scores and vasopressor requirements were recommended to operationalize the new definitions in practice.
This document discusses sepsis markers and their clinical use. It summarizes several biomarkers that show potential for diagnosing and monitoring sepsis, including procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST). sCD14-ST shows diagnostic value in distinguishing infection from SIRS and sepsis from severe sepsis. Studies found sCD14-ST levels correlated with severity of illness and organ dysfunction in sepsis patients. The document reviews several clinical trials and studies that evaluated these biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting outcomes in sepsis, abdominal infections, febrile neutropenia, and burns.
The document discusses a study on sepsis in Indian patients admitted to the ICU. It finds that respiratory infections were the most common cause of sepsis. The study evaluated procalcitonin (PCT) levels to diagnose sepsis and found it to have 94% sensitivity. Higher PCT levels correlated with increased organ dysfunction as measured by SOFA scores. The study concludes PCT is a promising marker for diagnosing sepsis in critically ill patients that can help guide early management.
Katrin Hruska discusses the usefulness of biomarkers in Emergency Medicine.
All biomarkers are awesome predictors of badness. Elevated hS-troponins after non-cardiac surgery or an acute exacerbation of COPD are associated with increased mortality.
In seemingly healthy people, elevated D-dimer levels are associated with increased mortality. Similarly, NT-proBNP levels predict mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease.
A biomarker, in its broadest sense, is defined as a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention (NIH Biomarkers Definitions Working group, 2001).
This definition includes everything from laboratory tests to blood pressure measurements or an ultrasound scan. The clinical assessment in the Emergency Department is based on the subjective history of the patient and all available biomarkers (and their change over time).
If we assume that biomarkers are objectively measured, there is an overestimation of their individual importance.
As Katrin explains, over testing and over diagnosis have serious consequences. Not only for patients but also for the healthcare system.
In a clinical context the ease of getting a laboratory test leads to a lower threshold for testing. This increases testing without affecting relevant clinical endpoints. Also, when a biomarker becomes part of the standardised workup for a certain symptom, primary care centres and emergency telephone services will refer patients to the Emergency Department for testing, even when the pretest probability is low.
Katrin contends this bias is not an inherent problem of biomarkers themselves, but of the decision-making process of clinicians. The human brain fears uncertainty. Anything that adds to the feeling of knowing is rewarding, which is the most probable explanation of over testing in settings where medico-legal risks for the clinicians are low.
There is an ever-increasing number of patients seeking to rule out serious conditions by relying on biomarker testing to provide certainty.