Biomarkers for the diagnosis of bacterial infections: in pursuit of the 'Holy Grail'

• Published in: Indian journal of medical research (New Delhi, India : 1994) Vol. 141; no. 3; pp. 271 - 273
• Main Authors: Mohan, Alladi, Harikrishna, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.03.2015; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Adults; Antibiotics; Bacterial infections; Bacterial Infections - blood; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Calcitonin - blood; Care and treatment; Developing countries; Diagnosis; Female; Fever; Humans; Infections; Interleukin-6 - blood; LDCs; Male; Meta-analysis; Peptides; Prognosis; Protein Precursors - blood; Proteins; Sepsis; Serum Amyloid A Protein - metabolism; Studies; Systematic review; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Viral infections; India; East Asia; Africa
• ISSN: 0971-5916; 0975-9174
• DOI: 10.4103/0971-5916.156551

[...]PCT has been assessed as a diagnostic marker for bacterial infection in febrile neutropenic patients also [10] . In this meta-analysis [15] , studies where sites of infection typical in sepsis (e.g. abdominal sepsis, pancreatitis, or meningitis) were clearly evident and studies that assessed the ability of procalcitonin to diagnose septic shock were excluded. [...]selection bias and other methodological issues appear to be the reasons for the differences in these results. Caution should be exercised in excluding bacterial infections based on a low PCT level because low levels of PCT are often seen early in the course of infection; in subacute bacterial endocarditis with bacteraemia; and in localized infections. [...]if the clinical evaluation suggests a possible diagnosis of bacterial sepsis, but serum PCT levels are not elevated at the time of initial presentation, patients should still be treated for sepsis initially.