La procalcitonina come indicatore di SIRS, sepsi e shock settico

Nosocomial infections are an important public health problem. Procalcitonin could be used as a clinical predictor of severe nosocomial infections. To validate procalcitonin as a diagnostic indicator of nosocomial infections, we have tested procalcitonin blood levels in 27 patients recovered in ICU of Pistoia Hospital. LUMItest PCT® was used as a reference test. From the comparison between low-risk and high-risk patients, selected in the considered wards, procalcitonin has emerged as a significant predictor of severe nosocomial infections. Procalcitonin could be used, together with other common indicators, as an important and sensitive marker to differentiate systemic bacterial infections from other severe complications and to follow up patients during antibiotic treatment.