Procalcitonin measurement in COVID-19

DiaSys Parameters in COVID-19 Monitoring

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a sensitive marker for severe and systemic bacterial infections like sepsis. The expression of PCT is stimulated in nearly all tissues by inflammatory markers in response to severe bacterial infections.

Recent studies focusing on viral SARS-CoV-2 infections report the increase of PCT in severe cases of COVID-19, even predicting worse outcome. [1,2] In these cases, increased PCT levels are interpreted as an indicator for bacterial coinfection or superinfection. [2-4]

Aside from underlying medical conditions and risk factors, coinfections and superinfections are a major cause for mortality in viral sepsis. [5]

IFFC Guidelines on COVID-19 strongly suggest PCT testing in patients with severe cases of COVID-19, intending the early identification and treatment of bacterial coinfections in such complex medical conditions. [6]

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Reference

1. Lippi, Plebani, 2020, CCLM, https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2020-0198 published online: March 03, 2020
2. Lippi, Plebani, 2020, Clinica Chimica Acta, 505, 190–191.
3. Kotula, Moore et al, 2018, J. Pediatr. Pharmacol. Ther. 23, 466–472.
4. Baumann, Baer, et al. 2017, Front. Pediatr, 5, 183 (open access)
5. Dolin, Papadimos et al. 2019, Microbiology Insights, 12 1-8.
6. https://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-news/2020-03-26-ifcc-information-guide-on-covid-19/ (accessed last April 4, 2020) 

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