The Role of Procalcitonin as a Biomarker in odontogenic space infection ? A Review of Literature
Author(s): Sharad Gowda*, Zeniya Hashmi, Sahil Prashar and Sukhwinder Pal Singh
Abstract
Biomarkers to guide antibiotic treatment decisions have been proposed as an effective means of promoting more appropriate antibiotic use. Procalcitonin (PCT) is synthesized by a variety of tissues and organs in response to invasion by pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and some parasites. The favourable kinetics of PCT may allow earlier diagnosis of sepsis and better monitoring of its progression. Thus, the primary utility of PCT is to detect the presence of systemic bacterial infections such as sepsis, and numerous studies have investigated the potential role of PCT in diagnosis and treatment. Clinically, the values of PCT can help determine the need for empirical antibiotic therapy, control of the source of infection, and duration of antibiotic therapy. In this review, the evidence for the usefulness of PCT in the diagnosis and treatment of odontogenic infections is discussed with its reliability and limitations to provide an overview of the potential of PCT to guide antibiotic therapy.