Procalcitonin can be measured in blood and also found in saliva. Procalcitonin measurements in blood can be used to differentiate between high and low risk pneumonia patients. This study that was published in European Journal of Respirology concluded that procalcitonin predicts risks in all CURB-65 classes. It also can help us to differentiate between typical and atypical pneumonia. This study concluded that Determination of the procalcitonin level may provide useful additional diagnostic information on the etiology of pneumonia and could have a crucial influence on the initial antimicrobial therapy. It has been studied in neonatal sepsis and also in patients with SLE.There has been controversy in using procalcitonin in sepsis but a recent article published in American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care concludes that serial measurement of PCT may help in deciding on duration of antibiotics in septic patients.This what i am talking about..
In future point of care measurements will be available to us hospitalist and this will enormously help us to manage our pneumonia patients properly.
In future point of care measurements will be available to us hospitalist and this will enormously help us to manage our pneumonia patients properly.
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