Procalcitonin: Usefulness in Acute Care Surgery and Trauma

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a serum biomarker currently suggested by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign to aid in determination of the appropriate duration of therapy in sepsis patients. We review the use of procalcitonin in patients after trauma or acute care surgery. Method: A MEDLINE search via PubMed was performed using the combination of "procalcitonin" and "humans" and "injuries, trauma," "wounds and injuries," or "wounds." Studies of burn patients, children, other biomarkers, and non-acute care surgery were excluded. Results: Procalcitonin may be useful in identifying infection in trauma and post-operative acute care surgery. However, heterogenity exists among patients, and surgery and trauma alone elevate PCT even in the absence of infection. Conclusions: Although trends in PCT concentrations may offer insight, no standard approach can be recommended currently.