Nandini Mahadev1, Shoukath Abdul Raheem2, Vinaykumar Bhimappa Haddannavar3
BACKGROUND
Sepsis is the most common cause of death in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) particularly in elderly, immunocompromised and critically ill patients. Definitive diagnosis of sepsis is positive blood culture and this takes long time to perform and being negative in many of the cases in order to assess the efficacy of the procalcitonin in diagnosing sepsis prospective study was conducted. Sepsis is diagnosed in early stage by measuring serum procalcitonin and value is correlated with the severity of sepsis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
50 patients admitted in ICU diagnosed as sepsis were enrolled in the study. In addition to detailed history and physical examination, other necessary investigations including serum PCT level are done. Chi-square test was used to compare these variables. Procalcitonin values were analysed presented in terms of median.
RESULTS
Out of 50 patients, 28 were males and 22 were females. Diabetes is the most common comorbid condition associated with sepsis. Respiratory tract is the most common source of infection followed by UTI and cellulitis. As the severity of sepsis, increased number of death also increased and 100% of patients with septic shock had positive PCT value compared to 55% of patients with sepsis.
CONCLUSION
Sepsis is most common cause of morbidity and mortality in ICU. Even though, culture is considered as one of most important investigation, the sensitivity is less and time consuming. So, serum PCT is one of the diagnostic marker, which can be used for early diagnosis of sepsis and start empirical antibiotics thus reducing the mortality.
