Procalcitonin as a prognostic and diagnostic tool for septic complications after major trauma

Procalcitonin as a prognostic and diagnostic tool for septic complications after major trauma. Critical Care Medicine, vol 37(6), June 2009, pp 1845-1849 [journal article]

Castelli, G.P., Pognani, C., Cita, M., Paladini, R.

http://ovidsp.uk.ovid.com/spa/ovidweb.cgi?&S=NODKPDLLCDHFJNDMFNFLOGHHMNONAA00&Link+Set=S.sh.2.14.16.17.65.67%7c2%7csl_10

Severe trauma is a potent cause of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Although SIRS is present in >90% of the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients, classic inflammatory criteria such as body temperature, heart rate, white blood cell count, and respiratory rate are often variable and do not seem useful in predicting infection or severity of illness. Although early diagnosis and treatment of infection are associated with improved mortality, diagnosis of infection in these patients is often delayed due to long culture times and difficulties in isolation from local colonization.