Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
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Clin. Microbiol. Infect. · May 2015
Review Meta AnalysisThe diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin for bacteraemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The diagnostic use of procalcitonin for bacterial infections remains a matter of debate. Most studies have used ambiguous outcome measures such as sepsis instead of infection. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin for bacteraemia, a proven bloodstream infection. ⋯ In spite of study heterogeneity, procalcitonin had a fair diagnostic accuracy for bacteraemia in adult patients suspected of infection or sepsis. In particular low procalcitonin levels can be used to rule out the presence of bacteraemia. Further research is needed on the safety and efficacy of procalcitonin as a single diagnostic tool to avoid taking blood cultures.