Procalcitonin and Bacterial Sepsis in Burns Patients in South Africa

Abstract Background Burn patients are at high risk of infection, and as sepsis contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality, early diagnosis is essential. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker released in response to inflammation and specifically bacterial infection. This study aimed to determine the value of PCT as a diagnostic biomarker of sepsis in burns patients in Johannesburg, South Africa. Materials and methods All adult patients admitted to two burns intensive care units in Johannesburg over a 3-year study period were included in a retrospective data review. Records of 178 patients were accessible and reviewed. Results The most significant risk factor for sepsis was percentage total body surface area burned (P = 0.012). A rise in PCT was a significant biomarker for bacterial infection in the early phase after a burn (P = 0.03) but not after day eight. PCT correlated with C-reactive protein as a biomarker for sepsis (P  Conclusions PCT may be useful as an adjunct biomarker of infection in burn patients and has potential as a predictive biomarker of early discharge.