title: Clinical application of sepsis biomarkers.
abstract: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in the critically ill. Early diagnosis is important to avoid delay in instituting appropriate treatment. However, diagnosis can be delayed because of difficulty in interpreting clinical features. Sepsis biomarkers can aid early diagnosis. This article reviews the application of readily available biomarkers for diagnosis of sepsis, for predicting prognosis, and for antibiotic stewardship. 178 biomarkers are described in the literature--ranging from specimen cultures, which lack sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of sepsis, to biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and genetic biomarkers, which have their own limitations. Future research will mainly focus on use of more than one biomarker, but the main problem in sepsis biomarker research seems to be a lack of a recommended biomarker.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, UK. vinothsankar@nhs.net
authors.forename: Vinoth
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sankar
authors.forename: Nigel R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D016638:Critical Illness; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis; D040901:Proteomics; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C473366:TREML1 protein, human; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide