Usefulness of biomarkers of sepsis in the ICU
Jolivet, P.; Christen, G.; Seematter, G.; Que, Y.-A.; Eggimann, P.
Revue Medicale Suisse 7(321): 2430-2434
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-9379 PMID: 22279860 Document Number: 651405
Despite some progress, the mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock remains high. Immunotherapy directed against inflammatory mediators failed, but new treatments more specifically tailored to individual situations are actively investigated. C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) have not demonstrated to be useful for individual prognostic stratification. New biomarkers such as pancreatic stone protein (PSP) or growth arrest specific protein 6 (Gas6) could improve this prediction. Combined with the clinical course, "PCT" allows to tailor individually the duration of antibiotic therapy in ICU patients. This still contested innovative approach significantly reduces overall exposure to antibiotics.