Role of the biomarkers Presepsin and Procalcitonin in the early detection of sepsis and risk stratification in Intensive Care patients

Giuseppa La Camera¹, Bruno Lanzafame², Veronica Dezio², Luca Vitale³, Carla Licari⁴, Luigi La Via²

¹Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialities, University of Catania - ²Postgraduate School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, AOUP Rodolico, University of Catania - ³Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Siracusa - ⁴Adjunct Professor of Scientific English, University of Catania 

Sepsis is one of the main realities in Intensive Care, in terms of frequency and significance. Therefore, an early detection is essential. The objective of this observational study, carried out within the multispecialty department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care of the "G. Rodolico" Polyclinic Hospital of Catania, is the evaluation of the diagnostic role that a marker of sepsis, such as Presepsin, also has with discriminating power and risk stratification, in comparison with the data of another biomarker of infection, such as Procalcitonin.

The study was conducted on 26 patients admitted in 4 months, from 28 May 2020 to 28 September 2020, at multispecialty department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care of the "G.Rodolico" Polyclinic Hospital of Catania. The clinical data for each patient were obtained from the daily assessment, supplemented by the data drawn from the consultation of individual clinical records. Patients transited to Intensive Care aged > 18 years and hospitalization period of at least 48 hours were included.

Our data seems to give higher predictive value for presepsin, despite the small number of patients tested. This also allows the evaluation on the possible evolution of the clinical picture, with prognosis prediction favorable for lower values and unfavourable for considerably high values.