[Proper usage of procalcitonin]

In the last fifteen years, procalcitonin measurement has been evaluated as a rapid diagnostic aid for suspected infection. Procalcitonin is now widely used in any febrile patient despite the lack of evidence supporting that practice. Indeed, procalcitonine has proven effective in the intensive care setting, as a diagnostic aid for septic shock, as a prognostic instrument and to tailor the duration of antibiotic treatment. Studies in non intensive care settings are more recent and scarce. Procalcitonin has been assessed in the emergency department in patients with lower respiratory tract infections and in patients admitted for an acute febrile illness. Results are encouraging but preliminary, therefore procalcitonine measurement should be restricted to patients with criteria of severe infection for the time being.