Procalcitonin and sepsis in the Emergency Department: an update.

Procalcitonin elevation may be used as an indication for initiation of antibiotic treatment, and antibiotics may be discontinued once procalcitonin normalizes. This approach leads to reduced antibiotic consumption, but it is not yet clear whether it ensures better outcomes for patients. Procalcitonin in centers where it is available could be a useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for patients presenting to the Emergency Department with symptoms suggestive of sepsis. Further research is however required to determine whether the use of procalcitonin measurements in management algorithms leads to improved patient outcomes.