Procalcitonin: a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of sepsis in burned patients

The goal of this study was to analyse plasma procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations during infectious events of burns in ICU. We conducted a prospective, observational study in a 20-bed Burn Intensive Care Unit in Tunisia. A total of 121 patients admitted to the Burn ICU were included in our study. Serum PCT was measured over the entire course of stay in patients with predictive signs of sepsis according to the Americain Burn Association Criteria for the presence of infection. Patients were assigned to two groups depending on the clinical course and outcome: Group A = non septic patients; Group B = septic patients. A PCT cutoff value of 0,69 ng/ml for sepsis prediction was associated with the optimal combination of sensitivity (89%), specificity (85%), positive predictive value (82%) and negative predictive value (88%). Serum procalcitonin levels can be used as an early indicator of septic complication in patients with severe burn injuries as well as in monitoring the response to antimicrobial therapy.