Early Serum Procalcitonin, Interleukin‐6, and 24‐Hour Lactate Clearance: Useful Indicators of Septic Infections in Severely Traumatized Patients

Abstract

This study demonstrates that elevated early procalcitonin and IL-6 levels and inadequate 24-hour lactate clearance help identify trauma patients who develop septic and nonseptic infectious complications. Definition of specific cutoff values and early monitoring of these parameters may help direct early surgical and antibiotic therapy and reduce infectious mortality.