Comparison of procalcitonin and c-reactive protein in differential diagnosis of sepsis and severe sepsis in emergency department

Objective: Sepsis and severe sepsis (sepsis accompanied by acute organ dysfunction) are leading causes of death worldwide. In this study, our aim was to investigate utility of biomarkers commonly used in diagnosis of sepsis in discriminating these two entities. Methods: Two-hundred and three patients involved were divided into 2 subgroups as sepsis and severe sepsis according to Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012. Then groups were compared according to clinical and laboratory (including C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels) characteristics. Results: Of 203 patients included into the study, 124 (61.1%) were male and 79 (38.9%) were female. The most common reason for sepsis was urinary tract infection (n=64, 31.5%), followed by catheter infection (n=16, 7.9%) and pneumonia (n=14, 6.9%). Escherichia coli was the most common agent in both blood and urinary cultures. Majority of the patients were treated with ceftriaxone (n=33, 16.3%), followed by meronem/dapson (n=25, 12.3%). In both groups, CRP and PCT levels were high, even higher in severe sepsis group. However, any statistical significance could not be determined between groups. Mortality rate in sepsis patients was 6.4%. Conclusion: Plasma levels of both markers elevate in sepsis and severe sepsis. It was determined that CRP and PCT is higher in severe sepsis than in sepsis. However, the difference is not statistically significant. Plasma levels of CRP and PCT are not useful in differential diagnosis of sepsis and severe sepsis.