March 2020
COVID-19 Pneumonia: Procalcitonin (PCT) for Risk Assessment and Rule-out of Bacterial Coinfection
The biomarker Procalcitonin (PCT) is widely used to assess the risk of bacterial infection and progression to severe sepsis and septic shock in conjunction with other laboratory findings and clinical assessment.
Further, the change of PCT over time is used to determine the mortality risk.
In patients with suspected or confirmed lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), including community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), acute bronchitis and acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), PCT is an aid in decision making on antibiotic therapy for inpatients or patients in the emergency department (ED).
Procalcitonin has now been shown to be also a valuable tool in the current COVID-19 pandemic to early identify patients at low risk for bacterial coinfection and adverse outcome...
COVID-19 Pneumonia: Procalcitonin (PCT) for Risk Assessment and Rule-out of Bacterial Coinfection >
News Archive
2019
September 2019
Sepsis
Thermo Fisher Scientific Supports Sepsis Awareness Month in September
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, announces its support of Sepsis Awareness Month to drive awareness around sepsis, a complex clinical syndrome and a leading cause of death globally.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Supports Sepsis Awareness Month in September >
August 2019
Antimicrobial Stewardship
PCT leads the way in antimicrobial stewardship
Antibiotic treatment of sepsis patients often has to rely on clinical observation and educated guesswork as clinicians wait for a culture to determine whether the infection is bacterial, viral, or possibly fungal.
July 2019
Patent
Validity of B·R·A·H·M·S’ patent confirmed by German Federal Patent Court
Again, B·R·A·H·M·S GmbH (B·R·A·H·M·S) has successfully defended one of its many patents relating to Procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnostics and therapy around sepsis and infectious diseases.
Read the news on thermoscientific.com/brahms >
July 2019
In Vitro Diagnostics
PCT included in Second WHO Model List of Essential In Vitro Diagnostics
"To guide antibiotic therapy initiation or discontinuation in sepsis and lower respiratory tract infection (For use only in tertiary care facilities and above)"
Second WHO Model List of Essential In Vitro Diagnostics >
July 2019
Antibiotic Resistance
Rapid Diagnostic Testing Helps Rule Out Bacterial Infections, Decreasing Antibiotic Use
A pharmacist-led protocol using rapid diagnostic testing to rule out methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pulmonary infections at an Ohio hospital last year led to 80% of patients being de-escalated on vancomycin within 24 hours of receiving negative test results.
May 2019
Health Economics
U.S. Health Economic Analysis Demonstrates the Cost Reduction Impact of using B·R·A·H·M·S PCT to Support Antibiotic Stewardship Versus Standard of Care
Outcome shows a reduction in antibiotic days, shorter length of stay, shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, and fewer patients at risk for antibiotic resistance or C.difficile infection lead to incremental reduction of costs of 26 percent in sepsis and 17.7 percent in lower respiratory tract infection
February 2019
Sepsis
2019 Sepsis Survivor Week, February 10th-16th
Up to 60% of sepsis survivors are left not only with physical challenges but mental and emotional challenges too.
Download Life After Sepsis video and infographics >
Learn more and find resources for sepsis survivors >
2018
November 6, 2018
33000 people die every year due to infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Read full news on ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) website >
Find out more on B·R·A·H·M·S PCT in Antibiotic Stewardship >
October 2, 2018
Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Sixth Licensing Agreement for B·R·A·H·M·S PCT
Siemens Healthineers Recent FDA Clearance of the Atellica IM B·R·A·H·M·S PCT Assay Extends Access of Procalcitonin to More U.S. Laboratories
Thermo Fisher Scientific announces sixth licensing agreement for B·R·A·H·M·S PCT >
September 2018
Recent publication: Procalcitonin guided antibiotic therapy in intensive care unit patients
Effect of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic treatment on clinical outcomes in intensive care unit patients with infection and sepsis patients: a patient-level meta-analysis of randomized trials
This meta-analysis based on more than 4000 individual ICU patient data confirms that B·R·A·H·M·S PCT guided antibiotic stewardship enables shortening of antibiotic therapy duration and reduction of mortality of septic patients, independently if old sepsis criteria or new sepsis3 criteria were used.
Read the publication here
July 17, 2018
New Thermo Scientific B·R·A·H·M·S PCT direct blood test allows fast bacterial infection and sepsis diagnosis at patient’s point of care
The new B·R·A·H·M·S PCT direct point of care assay requires just one drop of blood for a reliable infection diagnosis and clinical decisions in the acute care setting within 20 minutes.
July 13, 2018
Roche PCT assay cleared for expanded use - Important tool in antibiotic resistance crisis
Elecsys® B·R·A·H·M·S PCT™ (procalcitonin) helps clinicians assess presence and severity of certain bacterial infections and patient response to antibiotics
Roche PCT assay cleared for expanded use - Important tool in antibiotic resistance crisis >
April 2018
Too many antibiotics can give preemies a lifetime of ill health
Read the full Science Article here >
Learn more on Procalcitonin (PCT) for diagnosis and safe antibiotic guidance in neonatal sepsis >
January 2018
World Health Organization (WHO) surveillance report - High levels of antibiotic resistance found worldwide
WHO’s new Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS) reveals widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance among 500 000 people with suspected bacterial infections across 22 countries. A first release of surveillance data on antibiotic resistance reveals high levels of resistance to a number of serious bacterial infections in both high- and low-income countries.
Read the WHO News Release here >
Find out more on B·R·A·H·M·S PCT in Antibiotic Stewardship >
January 2018
Blood test reduces mortality and shortens antibiotic use among adults with chest infection
The National Institute on Health Research (NIHR), UK reports on the findings of a review that shows the growing body of evidence indicating that procalcitonin may help refine the use of antibiotics in select patient groups.
Read the full article on NIHR here >
Find out more on B·R·A·H·M·S PCT in Antibiotic Stewardship >
January 2018
Available now: Language versions of "Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016 "
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) have made the 2016 Guidelines available now in Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Find the language versions of the SSC Guidelines here >
Find out more on B·R·A·H·M·S PCT for early detection of sepsis >
2017
December 2017
Practical Patient Care - Issue 20 / 2017
Procalcitonin for neonatal sepsis diagnosis and safe antibiotic guidance
Neonatal infections remain a challenge for today's physicians, as early signs and symptoms are often protean and non-specific. B·R·A·H·M·S PCT can help to detect neonatal sepsis and assist in safe antibiotic guidance.
Read the full article on Practical Patient Care >
Find out more on B·R·A·H·M·S PCT in Neonatal sepsis >
November 2017
Kampala Declaration - African Sepsis Alliance
The African Sepsis Alliance (ASA) works to reduce the impact of sepsis (mortality and suffering) by initiating large scale improvements in sepsis awareness, education, care, research and funding throughout Africa.
In cooperation with the African Federation of Critical Care Nurses, Global Sepsis Alliance and World Federation of Critical Care Nurses the ASA put together the Kampala Declaration to improve care for sepsis and severely ill patients in Africa.
Read the Kampala Declaration >
Find out about the African Sepsis Alliance >
Sign the Kampala Declaration on change.org >
November 2017
10th European Antibiotic Awareness Day
15 November 2017 marks the 10th European Antibiotic Awareness Day, an EU-level initiative to raise awareness about the threat to public health of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the importance of using antibiotics prudently.
More on European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2017 >
Do watch the video of the live web-conference "Keeping Antibiotics Working" on YouTube >
Read more on antibiotic stewardship >
November 2017
NeoPInS - The largest intervention study in neonates for shortening of antibiotic therapy
The recently published multicentric, multinational randomized controlled NeoPIns study shows a 15% reduced duration of antibiotic therapy guided by Procalcitonin (55 hrs vs. 65 hrs) and a shorter hospital stay in a large cohort of neonates with suspected early-onset sepsis. With 1710 neonates, NeoPIns is the largest randomized intervention study till date for shortening of antibiotic treatment in neonates.
Read it on The Lancet >
Find out more on B·R·A·H·M·S PCT in Neonatal sepsis >
November 2017
World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) 2017
This year's WAAW-theme: Seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional before taking antibiotics. Antibiotics are a precious resource, so it is important to get the right advice before taking them. Responsible use of antibiotics will also help reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance.
Find out more on WAAW 2017 >
Read more on antibiotic stewardship >
August/September 2017
Sepsis Media Award 2017 of the German Sepsis Society
Every year, outstanding works of medical journalism to increase knowledge and awareness about sepsis in German-speaking countries receive recognition by the German Sepsis Society (DSG).
The 2017 Sepsis Media Award will be announced during the opening meeting of the "Sepsis Update" in Weimar on Sep 6, 2017.
Sponsor of the Sepsis Media Award is Thermo Fisher Scientifc.
Read more > about previous winners of the Sepsis Media Award
Find out > about Sepsis Update 2017
June 2017
Recognizing Sepsis as a Global Health Priority - A WHO Resolution
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the priority on improving prevention, diagnosis and management of sepsis globaly. Millions of lives can be saved if politicians, policymakers, health care administrators, researchers, and clinicians take coordinated efforts.
Read more > in The NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL of MEDICINE (NEJM)
May 2017
Time to Treatment and Mortality during Mandated Emergency Care for Sepsis
In 2013, New York began requiring hospitals to follow protocols for the early identification and treatment of sepsis. However, there is controversy about whether more rapid treatment of sepsis improves outcomes in patients.
Time to Treatment and Mortality during Mandated Emergency Care for Sepsis ›
April 20, 2017
Multi-Center Clinical Study Confirms Decreased Levels of Procalcitonin as an Independent Predictor of Mortality in Patients with Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock
Results from Procalcitonin MOnitoring SEpsis Study published in May 2017 issue of Critical Care Medicine
February 2017
FDA clears test to help manage antibiotic treatment for lower respiratory tract infections and sepsis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today cleared the expanded use of the Vidas Brahms PCT Assay...
2016
November 2016
Biomarkers guide safe antibiotic decisions
Overuse of antibiotics is a global problem, but the biomarker Procalcitonin (PCT), such as the B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assay from Thermo Fisher Scientific, can help guide antibiotic stewardship and reduce resistance to the effects of these drugs.
Read article in Practical Patient Care ›
September 26, 2016
Thermo Fisher Scientific Joins Sepsis Alliance in Support of Sepsis Awareness Month
Sepsis Awareness Month aims to provide education around a deadly condition that is claiming millions of lives globally every year.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has joined the Sepsis Alliance and advocates to spread the word about sepsis and the risk factors associated with the condition.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Joins Sepsis Alliance in Support of Sepsis Awareness Month ›
July 7, 2016
Innovative trial design helps accelerate FDA clearance process for B·R·A·H·M·S PCT license partners
An innovative trial design helped our license partners, Roche Diagnostics USA and bioMérieux, achieve FDA clearance in just 90 days for the Roche ELECSYS B·R·A·H·M·S PCT and bioMérieux VIDAS B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assays. The Procalcitonin MOnitoring SEpsis Study (MOSES) included 858 adult patients with sepsis recruited across 13 investigational sites in the U.S.
B·R·A·H·M·S PCT license partners achieve FDA clearance in 90 days ›
www.mddionline.com > A Diagnostic Trial Designed to Speed Clearance ›
June 23, 2016
Roche receives FDA clearance for Elecsys B·R·A·H·M·S PCT
Roche announced that it has received 510(k) clearance for its Elecsys B·R·A·H·M·S PCT (Procalcitonin) assay as a dedicated testing solution for people with severe sepsis or septic shock.
March 1, 2016
Expanded FDA clearance for B·R·A·H·M·S PCT sepsis biomarker
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that expands the clinical claims of the Thermo Scientific B·R·A·H·M·S PCT (Procalcitonin) biomarker assay for sepsis risk assessment. Clinicians can now use B·R·A·H·M·S PCT to help assess the response of septic patients to treatment by comparing a baseline PCT measurement with a PCT value taken on day four.
B·R·A·H·M·S PCT cleared for assessing mortality risk of septic patients ›
