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  5. Sepsis and the B·R·A·H·M·S Procalcitonin (PCT) Assay
PCT key visual

B·R·A·H·M·S Procalcitonin (PCT) AssayWhen seconds count, accurate results can make the difference between life and death

The Siemens Healthineers B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assay can help improve sepsis patient outcomes and can also help to reduce unnecessary treatments and costs for healthcare institutions.

  • Help achieve early sepsis risk assessment to improve patient outcomes, including reduced morbidity and mortality with the ability to make confident decisions in minutes.
  • Gain confidence when guiding antibiotic therapy with an assay that has optimal precision across the measurable range.
  • Deliver reliable results from proven, trusted technologies that demonstrate high agreement with the B·R·A·H·M·S PCT sensitive KRYPTOR assay.

Antibiotic Decision-Making

The B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assay from Siemens Healthineers can help clinicians optimize antibiotic prescription rates and tailor treatment duration to the individual patient’s needs. This approach improves patient outcomes but also shortens hospital stays and treatment duration, lowers the likelihood of antibiotic-associated adverse events, and reduces antibiotic resistance rates and healthcare costs.1-6
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Dark side of antibiotics

Evidence shows a global decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics

  • Inappropriate use of antibiotics has lead to a major increase in antibiotic resistance.
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global healthcare threat because it limits the capacity to fight life-threatening diseases.

Dark side of antibiotics
antibiotic prescription rates
PCT antibiotic decision making
PCT Sepsis
BRAHMS Procalcitonin (PCT) bar chart
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Interpretation of Results

Rapid results in the ER with PCT

Data support the following interpretative risk assessment criteria on first day of ICU admission:7,8

  • PCT>2.0 ng/mL: Associated with a high risk for progression to severe sepsis and/or septic shock.
  • PCT<0.5 ng/mL: Associated with a low risk for progression to severe sepsis and/or septic shock.

Note: PCT levels < 0.5 ng/mL do not exclude an infection, because localized infections (without systemic signs) may also be associated with such low levels. If the PCT measurement is done very early after the systemic infection process has started (usually < 6 hours), these values may still be low.

Prediction of mortality

Percent change in PCT level over time to aid in the prediction of cumulative 28‑day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.
PCT level changes
References
1

de Jong E, van Oers J, Beishuizen A, Vos P, Vermeijden W, Haas L, et al. Efficacy and safety of procalcitonin guidance in reducing the duration of antibiotic treatment in critically ill patients: A randomised, controlled, open-label trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016 Jul 1;16(7):819-27.

2

Schuetz P, Christ-Crain M, Thomann R, Falconnier C, Wolbers M, Widmer et al. Effect of procalcitonin-based guidelines vs standard guidelines on antibiotic use in lower respiratory tract infections: The ProHOSP randomized controlled trial. Jama. 2009 Sep 9;302(10):1059-66.

3

Esposito S, Tagliabue C, Picciolli I, Semino M, Sabatini C, Consolo S, et al. Procalcitonin measurements for guiding antibiotic treatment in pediatric pneumonia. Respir Med. 2011 Dec;105(12):1939-45.

4

Kyriazopoulou E, Liaskou-Antoniou L, Adamis G, Panagaki A, Melachroinopoulos N, Drakou E, Marousis K, et al. Procalcitonin to reduce long-term infection-associated adverse events in sepsis. a randomized trial. Amer J Resp Crit. 2021 Jan 15;203(2):202-10.

5

Long W, Deng X, Zhang YU, Lu G, Xie J, Tang J. Procalcitonin guidance for reduction of antibiotic use in low‐risk outpatients with community‐acquired pneumonia. Respirology. 2011 Jul;16(5):819-24.

6

Voermans AM, Mewes JC, Broyles MR, Steuten L. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Procalcitonin-Guided Decision Algorithm for Antibiotic Stewardship Using Real-World U.S. Hospital Data. OMICS 2019 Oct;23(10):508-515. doi: 10.1089/omi.2019.0113.

7

Muller B et al. Calcitonin precursors are reliable markers of sepsis in medical intensive care unit. Crit Care Med. 2000; 28(4):977–983.

8

Harbarth S, Holeckova K, Froidevaux C, et al. Diagnostic value of procalcitonin, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 in critically ill patients admitted with suspected sepsis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001;164(3):396-402.