| |
Interpretation |
Recommendations |
| <0.05 ng/mL |
Normal |
- Very low risk of bacterial
- infection.
- Strongly discourage
- antibiotics.
|
| 0.05-0.24 ng/mL |
Low risk of systemic
infection. Local bacterial infection possible.
|
- Assess other clinical features of infection.
- Discourage antibiotics.
|
| 0.25-0.49 ng/mL |
Possible early systemic infection or localized infection |
- Encourage antibiotics only in correct clinical context.
- Consider obtaining blood cultures or other relevant cultures.
- Recheck PCT in 6-12 hours to ensure baseline low level.
- If repeat PCT is rising, consider early systemic infection and consider starting antibotics.
|
| 0.50-1.99 ng/mL |
Moderate risk of systemic infection. |
- Recommend antibiotics
- Evaluate culture results and clinical features to target antibacterial therapy.
- Obtain blood cultures and other relevant cultures if not done.
If empiric antibiotics were started, recheck PCT in:
- 2 days to guide antibiotic de-escalation.
- Discontinue or de-escalate antibiotics when PCT concentration is <80% of peak or abs PCT <0.5.
If empiric antibiotics wre NOT started, recheck PCT in:
- 6-12 hours to re-evaluate need for antibiotics.
|
| 2.00-9.99 g/mL |
High risk for progression to severe sepsis. |
- Strongly recommend initiating or continuing antibiotics.
- Evaluate culture results and clinical features to target antibacterial therapy.
- Obtain blood cultures and other relevant cultures if not done.
- Repeat PCT in 2 days to guide antibiotic de-escalation.
- Consider de-escalating antibiotics when PCT concentration is <80% or peak or abs PCT < 0.05.
|
| ≥ 10 ng/mL |
Very high likelihood of severe sepsis or septic shock. |
- Strongly recommend initiating or continuing antibiotics.
- Evaluate culture results and clinical features to target antibacterial therapy.
- Obtain blood cultures and other relevant cultures if not done.
- Repeat PCT in 2 days to guide antibiotic de-escalation.
- Consider de-escalating antibiotics when PCT concentration is <80% of peak or abs PCT < 1.
|
