title: Using procalcitonin to guide antimicrobial duration in sepsis: asking the same questions will not bring different answers.
abstract: Severe sepsis is a major healthcare problem and the early initiation of antimicrobials is one of the few measures associated with improved outcomes. However, antibiotic overuse is an increasing problem in critical care. Of several potential biomarkers for antibiotic stewardship, procalcitonin represents the most widely studied and validated. In this commentary we address the current literature on the use of biomarkers to guide antimicrobial therapy in the critically ill and discuss its limitations and future directions.
authors.forename: Jorge I F
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Salluh
authors.forename: Vandack
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Povoa
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006023:Glycoproteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin