Procalcitonin levels are elevated in sepsis and may be helpful as a marker for sepsis. There is evidence from adult ICU studies that significant reductions in use of antimicrobial agents can be achieved in patients whose treatment is guided by procalcitonin concentration. This supports which statement?

• A. Viral infections
• B. Sepsis
• C. Dehydration
• D. All of the above

Answer: (B)

Procalcitonin rises in bacterial infections and sepsis, making it a useful biomarker to guide antibiotic decisions. The adult ICU studies show that using procalcitonin levels to steer therapy can significantly reduce antibiotic exposure without compromising outcomes, which supports treating procalcitonin as a marker that helps guide antimicrobial decisions in sepsis. Viral infections typically do not cause large procalcitonin elevations, and dehydration is not associated with increased procalcitonin, so those options don’t fit.