Biomedical Research

Background: Bacterial sepsis is one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients admitted to any tertiary care hospital. Early diagnosis of bacterial sepsis is a challenge to the clinician and the laboratory. Blood culture is the gold standard for the diagnosis of bacterial sepsis. Isolating the bacteria and determining its antibiotic susceptibility takes a minimum of 48 hours. There is a constant search for biochemical markers which might rapidly indicate bacterial sepsis. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of procalcitonin in bacterial sepsis. Subject and methods: Procalcitonin (PCT) levels were determined in 136 patients admitted to the hospital with symptoms of sepsis. PCT was measured in serum samples obtained from the patients at the same time when blood was drawn for culture. Results: Out of the 136 patients clinically diagnosed with sepsis, 14 patients had a positive blood culture (10.3%). Procalcitonin levels of >0.5 ng/ml was considered as positive. Out of the 14 patients with a positive blood culture, 12 had PCT levels greater than 0.5 ng/ml. ROC analysis revealed maximum sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 65% with a PCT value of 3.25 ng/ml. The mean PCT values in survivors were lower when compared to PCT values in non survivors. Conclusion: Markers for rapid diagnosis of sepsis is required to institute rapid and appropriate management. Procalcitonin level is one such promising target marker for early diagnosis of sepsis.

Author(s): Sunil Kumar Nanda, Asha Dinakaran, Sandhya Bhat K, Ravichandran, Reba Kanungo
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