Con, or ProCalcitonin?

In this episode, Eddy Jo delves into the complexities surrounding the use of procalcitonin as a biomarker for bacterial infection. Procalcitonin is typically secreted in response to inflammation and pathological situations such as bacterial infections and certain chronic conditions like end-stage renal disease or cancer. Eddy also explores the limitations and misconceptions about procalcitonin, such as its inability to definitively diagnose bacterial infections or differentiate between bacterial and viral infections.

The FDA's recommendations regarding procalcitonin levels for initiating or stopping antibiotic treatment are discussed, as well as the potential issues that arise when practitioners rely too heavily on procalcitonin values in a clinical setting. The host explains that data has shown the use of procalcitonin to diagnose bacterial infection is not as straightforward as some practitioners might think. He concludes by suggesting that while procalcitonin might not be a reliable tool for initiating antibiotic treatment, it could have some utility in determining when to stop such treatments, particularly in places where antibiotic use is high.