Procalcitonin, a biomarker that rises in response to bacterial infection, has been widely studied to support antibiotic decision making in sepsis.1 Randomised controlled trials done in intensive care units (ICUs) suggest that procalcitonin-guided strategies based on serial testing can safely reduce antibiotic exposure, primarily by guiding earlier antimicrobial discontinuation once clinical trajectories become apparent.2,3 By contrast, studies of procalcitonin-guided strategies enrolling patients in emergency departments have largely focused on low-acuity respiratory infections rather than sepsis; although earlier trials4 suggested benefit of such strategies, the most recent US pragmatic trial showed no meaningful reduction in antibiotic use.
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine published a clinical update in Critical Care on 22 Mar 2026. The item focuses on Rethinking the role of procalcitonin in suspected sepsis. Open the detail page to review the full original feed content.