The role of procalcitonin in emergency medicine

evaluate its efficacy. Informations regarding the diagnostic and prognostic role of PCT in the critically ill subject are lacking. Aim of this study was to evaluate the value of PCT in the diagnosis of bacterial infections and its prognostic weight in the unstable patient. Methods: we enrolled 1063 consecutive, critically ill subjects admitted to our Internal Subintensive Medicine Department in the period 2008-2010, evaluating age, sex, haemodynamic parameters, blood exams, PCT and blood cultures. In particular we collected the absolute number of peripheral white blood cells, troponin I (TnI) and serum creatinine. Among hemodynamic parameters, we evaluated the presence of shock (defined as systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, low urine output, < 0.5 ml/kg/h and reduced cutaneous perfusion). The degree of severity of the pathology was assessed with the SAPS-II score. We’ve set as outcomes mortality or intensive therapy transfer, overall survival and length of hospital admission. Results: We observed positive cultures in 375 subjects, whose mean PCT levels were significantly higher than in patients without positive cultures (0,84 ng/ml versus 0,20 ng/ml; p