Year: 2026 | Month: November | Volume: 16 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 56-63
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20261107
Clinical Study of Role of Serum Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis, Severity Assessment, and Prognostication of Sepsis at a Tertiary Care Centre
Milind Bhimrao Taru1, Prashant Sudam Dhumal2, Aniket Shivaji Chate3
1Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
2Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
3Associate Professor, Dept of Medicine, R K Damani Medical College SRIMS, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Corresponding Author: Dr. Prashant Sudam Dhumal
ABSTRACT
Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated response to infection. Early diagnosis, severity assessment, and prognostication remain challenging. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) may serve as a useful biomarker for infection, disease severity, and prediction of outcomes in patients with sepsis.
Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, from January to December 2025. Sepsis and septic shock were classified according to Sepsis-3 criteria. Serum PCT was measured at admission and repeated after 72 hours in patients with sepsis. Clinical characteristics, infection source, microbiological findings, SOFA score, organ-support requirements, and hospital outcome were recorded.
Results: Among 160 patients, 118 (73.75%) had sepsis and 40 (25.00%) had septic shock. Median PCT increased significantly from non-sepsis to sepsis and septic shock (0.42, 3.20, and 9.80 ng/mL; p<0.001). PCT showed 79.66% sensitivity, 71.43% specificity, and AUC 0.82 for sepsis. Admission PCT correlated with SOFA score (r=0.56). Non-survivors had higher PCT and lower clearance; 72-hour PCT clearance <50% predicted mortality (AUC=0.84).
Conclusion: Serum PCT demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy for sepsis and increased progressively with disease severity. Serial PCT kinetics were associated with hospital outcome, and 72-hour PCT clearance showed a numerically higher AUC for mortality than admission PCT. PCT should be interpreted as an adjunct to clinical assessment, SOFA scoring, microbiological evaluation, and serial reassessment.
Key words: Sepsis; Septic Shock; Procalcitonin; SOFA Score; Biomarker; Mortality; Prognosis