Procalcitonin testing for diagnosing and monitoring sepsis (ADVIA Centaur BRAHMS PCT assay, BRAHMS PCT Sensitive Kryptor assay, Elecsys BRAHMS PCT assay, LIAISON BRAHMS PCT assay and VIDAS BRAHMS PCT assay)

The Committee recommended that robust evidence is generated to show the impact of adding procalcitonin testing to standard clinical practice in the NHS, to guide the use of antibiotic treatment in people with confirmed or highly‑suspected sepsis in intensive care units and in people with suspected bacterial infections presenting to the emergency department. The impact on resource use when procalcitonin testing is used in combination with protocol‑driven clinical care in the NHS is of particular relevance. The Committee encouraged the collection of data for longer‑term clinical outcomes of sepsis that contribute to post‑sepsis syndromes.

Focused studies in explicitly‑defined patient groups are recommended, including:

• Children having antibiotics for a suspected or proven infection in an intensive care unit.

• Children and adults presenting to the emergency department with respiratory tract infection.

• Adults presenting to the emergency department with exacerbations of chronic inflammatory respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.