Utility of Procalcitonin in Septicemia Tests / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

　　Procalcitonin (PCT) is a diagnostic marker of severe bacterial infection and sepsis. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, DIC and death, thus making the early diagnosis of sepsis very important. Many markers (e.g., CRP, blood culture, endotoxin) of infection largely lack in clinically important property. Therefore, clinical PCT-level measurement has been accepted worldwide in the last five years. Our hospital reports PCT within 30 minutes after the collection of blood samples all day long. In this study, we assess the clinical utility of PCT for early diagnosis and treatment with specimens tested by both PCT and blood cultures. PCT assay and blood culture demonstrated the diagnostic concordance rate stood at 58.96%. We presume that the cause of its discrepancy is a lack of sensitivity of blood culture and an increase in PCT by the invasiveness of other factors. On the other hand, patients with PCT‹0.5 ng/mL are unlikely to suffer from severe bacterial infection and sepsis. Thus, PCT could be one of Vital Signs and useful for early diagnosis in the emergency care.