Diagnostic accuracy of presepsin (sCD14-ST) and procalcitonin for prediction of bacteraemia and bacterial DNAaemia in patients with suspected sepsis

Early diagnosis and prompt targeted therapy are essential for septic patients' outcome. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been shown to predict bacteraemia and bacterial DNAaemia. Presepsin, the circulating soluble form of CD14 subtype, increases in response to bacterial infections, and is considered a new, emerging, early marker for sepsis. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of presepsin in predicting bacteraemia and bacterial DNAaemia in 92 patients with suspected sepsis, and we compared it with that of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP). Presepsin median values were significantly higher in bacteraemic vs non-bacteraemic patients [1290 pg ml-1, interquartile range (IQR) 1005-2041 vs 659 pg ml-1, IQR 381-979; P