Support in COVID-19 patients with pneumonia
Rule-out of Bacterial Coinfection
PCT on admission
- Test PCT as an aid for early risk assessment and prioritization of high risk patients
- <0.5 µg/L* → low risk for bacterial coinfection and adverse outcome
- ≥0.5 µg/L → high risk patients, bacterial coinfection likely
PCT during hospital stay
Monitor PCT to detect secondary infections and progression of the severity of bacterial infection
* Majority of patients with mild disease had PCT values <0.25 µg/L or even <0.1 µg/L. Ref-1-6
Likelihood of bacterial infection and recommendation to start antibiotics in patients with LRTI at PCT >0.25 µg/L. Ref-7
The biomarker Procalcitonin (PCT) is widely used to assess the risk of bacterial infection and progression to severe bacterial 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 bacterial sepsis.
In patients with suspected or confirmed lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), including communityacquired pneumonia (CAP), acute bronchitis and acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), PCT is an aid in decision making on antibiotic therapy for inpatients or patients presenting in the emergency department (ED).
Procalcitonin has now been shown, in evolving descriptive studies, to be an additional valuable tool in the current COVID-19 pandemic to early identify patients at low risk for bacterial coinfection and adverse outcome. Ref-1-6, 17
New analysis of 1099 COVID-19 patient data sets from a range of medical centers in China Ref-2 show that PCT was low (<0.5 µg/L) in > 96% of cases with low disease severity and absence of adverse outcome (combined endpoint of ICU admission, invasive ventilation, death). Most of COVID-19 patients even had PCT values below 0.25 µg/L or even below 0.1 µg/L.Ref-2-3 This correlates to findings from previous viral epidemics (influenza H1N1, SARS, MERS) that PCT is usually low (<0.1 − <0.5 µg/L) in hospitalized patients with pure viral infection. Ref-8-13
In cases with bacterial coinfection and higher severity of disease PCT has been found >0.5 µg/L. Ref-1-6
Thus, according to a recent meta-analysis of published COVID-19 patient data, PCT >0.5 µg/L corresponds to an almost 5 times higher risk of severe infection (OR, 4.76; 95% CI, 2.74-8.29) compared to patients with lower PCT Ref-14. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and septic shock were most frequent complications of COVID-19; secondary infections during the hospital stay were an additional risk factor. Ref-1-6 Death was in an almost all patients associated with sepsis/septic shock and respiratory failure/ARDS.Ref-2-3,6,8
IFCC Information Guide on COVID-19
The IFCC identifies PCT on the Recommended Test List for potential clinical and biological significance in recognizing bacterial (super) infection
“The essential role of clinical laboratories in this pandemic extends beyond etiological diagnosis of COVID- 19. Biochemical monitoring of COVID-19 patients through in vitro diagnostic testing is critical for assessing disease severity and progression as well as monitoring therapeutic intervention. Several common in vitro diagnostic tests have been implicated in unfavourable COVID-19 progression, potentially providing important prognostic information. A recommended test list based on current literature is included below along with the major laboratory abnormalities associated with adult COVID-19 patients and their potential clinical indication” Ref-15
Cochairs of the ATS/IDSA CAP guidelines provide guideline interpretation for the management of patients with COVID-19
Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.
"Still, we endorse the use of a low procalcitonin value early in the course of confirmed COVID-19 illness to guide the withholding or early stopping of antibiotics, especially among patients with less severe disease." Ref-18
CDC Interim Clinical Guidance
for Management of Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
The CDC identifies PCT among a list of inflammatory markers correlating to the severity of illness.
“Procalcitonin is typically normal on admission, but may increase among those admitted to the ICU. Patients with critical illness had high plasma levels of inflammatory markers, suggesting potential immune dysregulation.” Ref-16
Take home message:
- PCT testing on admission seems to be a valuable additional piece of information to aid in early risk assessment and rule-out of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. Ref-1-6
- Monitoring of PCT was identified to be useful for detection of secondary infections and progression to more severe disease state like sepsis / septic shock.Ref-2-3, 14-16
Further links
Find out which B·R·A·H·M·S PCT assay might be available in your laboratory.
As the world leader in serving science, Thermo Fisher Scientific is helping our customers respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways.
Overcoming Challenges in COVID-19 patient management with PCT
References
Ref-1: Huang C et al: Lancet 2020; 395: 497–506, https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2820%2930183-5
Ref-2: Guan W. et al., NEJM 28 Feb 2020, https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032
Ref-3: Zhou et al., Lancet , March 9, 2020 , https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2820%2930566-3
Ref-4: Chen N. et al., Lancet 2020; 395: 507–13, https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2820%2930211-7
Ref-5: Xiao-Wei Xu. et al., BMJ (Online); London 2020, 368 (Feb 19, 2020), https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/368/bmj.m606.full.pdf
Ref-6: Huang Y et al., medRxiv preprint 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.27.20029009
Ref-7: Schuetz P. et al., Exp. Rev Anti-infect. Ther., 2018, 16:7, 555-564, DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2018.1496331
Ref-8: Ingram P.R. et al., Intensive Care Med 2010;36 (3),Jan 13: 528-32
Ref-9: Cuquemelle E. et al., Intensive Care Med 2011, 37(5):796-800
Ref-10: Rodriguez A.H. et al., J. Infect 2016, 72:143-152
Ref-11: Chua, A. P., and K. H. Lee. 2004, J. Infect. 48:303–306
Ref-12: Ji-Young Rhee et al., Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 2016, 69:361–366
Ref-13: Karhu J. et al., Cytokine 2019, 113:272-276
Ref-14: Lippi G. & Plebani M., Clin Chim Acta 2020, March 4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7094472/pdf/main.pdf
Ref-15: IFCC 2020, 6th April, https://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-news/2020-03-26-ifcc-information-guide-on-covid-19
Ref-16: CDC 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-guidance-management-patients.html#lab-findings
Ref-17: AACC 2020, https://www.aacc.org/publications/cln/cln-stat/2020/april/16/key-biomarkers-in-managing-covid-19
Ref-18: Metlay J. P. & Waterer G. W., Ann Intern Med. doi:10.7326/M20-2189, May 7, 2020 https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/M20-2189#t1-M202189
