ReviewCureus2026
Procalcitonin and C-reactive Protein in Septicaemia: Correlation With Bacterial Profile and Antimicrobial Resistance in ICU Setting.
Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Septicemia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), particularly in regions facing a growing burden of antimicrobial resistance. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy are essential for improving patient outcomes; however, conventional blood culture methods often require prolonged turnaround times, limiting their utility in urgent clinical decision-making. This narrative review aims to summarize current evidence regarding the epidemiology, microbiological characteristics, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and clinical utility of inflammatory biomarkers in ICU-associated septicemia, with particular emphasis on C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT). Relevant peer-reviewed literature was identified through a review of published studies, reviews, and clinical guidelines addressing septicemia, biomarker performance, antimicrobial resistance, and antimicrobial stewardship in critical care settings. Available evidence suggests that gram-negative pathogens remain predominant causes of ICU septicemia and are frequently associated with elevated PCT concentrations due to endotoxin-mediated inflammatory responses. Compared with CRP, PCT generally demonstrates earlier elevation following bacterial infection, greater specificity for bacterial sepsis, and a closer association with disease severity. However, both biomarkers have limitations, particularly in predicting mortality and clinical outcomes. Current evidence supports the use of biomarkers as adjunctive tools rather than standalone diagnostic tests. PCT-guided antimicrobial strategies may contribute to improved antimicrobial stewardship and reduced unnecessary antibiotic exposure in selected patient populations. Overall, optimal management of septicemia requires integration of clinical assessment, microbiological investigations, and biomarker data to support timely and informed therapeutic decisions.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.