The Value of Procalcitonin in Pulmonary Infections

摘要

Pulmonary infections pose a serious health-related threat to many patients around the world. This is particularly important among those who are immune compromised and the elderly [1,2]. Despite numerous advances in prevention and supportive treatment, these infections continue to be among the most common causes of mortality in the United States [3, 4]. In addition, the economic impact of infections, such as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), has been estimated to be close to dollar17 billion U.S. Dollars per year in medical-related expenses in the United States [3].