.webp&w=384&q=75){kind=logo}
Loading, please wait...
Loading, please wait...
A randomized study evaluated whether serial procalcitonin measurements could help shorten antibiotic therapy in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. In patients managed with a procalcitonin algorithm, antibiotic exposure was reduced compared with empirical treatment decisions, without an apparent increase in mortality or recurrence of the primary infection. The study contributed to the evidence supporting biomarker-assisted antimicrobial stewardship in critical care. For general physicians, however, procalcitonin should be viewed as an adjunct rather than an autonomous prescribing signal. Clinical stability, microbiology, source control, imaging and the patient's immune status remain essential. The broader value of the biomarker is in helping clinicians question unnecessary continuation of antibiotics when the clinical trajectory supports de-escalation. This is especially relevant in settings facing antimicrobial resistance. Protocolized use can improve consistency, but local epidemiology and resource availability matter. The practical lesson is that biomarkers work best when embedded in clinical decision algorithms rather than interpreted in isolation.
Read summarized clinical updates, watch expert medical content, and earn CME certifications right from your smartphone.
Open your smartphone camera to scan and install.
A randomized study evaluated whether serial procalcitonin measurements could help shorten antibiotic therapy in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. In patients managed with a procalcitonin algorithm, antibiotic exposure was reduced compared with empirical treatment decisions, without an apparent increase in mortality or recurrence of the primary infection. The study contributed to the evidence supporting biomarker-assisted antimicrobial stewardship in critical care. For general physicians, however, procalcitonin should be viewed as an adjunct rather than an autonomous prescribing signal. Clinical stability, microbiology, source control, imaging and the patient's immune status remain essential. The broader value of the biomarker is in helping clinicians question unnecessary continuation of antibiotics when the clinical trajectory supports de-escalation. This is especially relevant in settings facing antimicrobial resistance. Protocolized use can improve consistency, but local epidemiology and resource availability matter. The practical lesson is that biomarkers work best when embedded in clinical decision algorithms rather than interpreted in isolation.
Today
The phase 3 ACACIA-HCM trial reveals that aficamten improves cardiac structure, diastolic relaxation, functional capacity, and symptom burden in symptomatic nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, marking a major milestone in targeted myosin inhibition.
6 days back
A clinical study shows that automated breast ultrasound paired with artificial intelligence accurately classifies BIRADS 3-4 lesions, reaching 95% sensitivity and 79% specificity. This diagnostic advance promises to reduce unnecessary core needle biopsies and refine clinical workflows in breast imaging.
3 weeks back
Researchers have engineered freestanding hierarchical-porous BCZT thin films that resist cracking and enhance ultrasonic energy harvesting in soft tissue. Achieving high piezoelectric output and acoustic matching, this lead-free material offers transformative potential for implantable bioelectronics.
6 days back
A novel pathology-adaptive surface engineering strategy uses functionalized plasma polymer coatings to selectively modulate AGE adsorption, reducing oxidative stress and restoring bone formation in diabetic and aging microenvironments.
3 weeks back
A breakthrough study identifies the Klotho/PKCα/CUX1/SPARC/TGFβ-RII axis as a critical driver of podocyte mitochondrial injury and ferroptosis in diabetic kidney disease, unveiling promising molecular targets to halt renal disease progression.
6 days back
