The role of biomarkers in low respiratory tract infections

Low respiratory tract infections (LRTI) represent the leading infectious cause of death worldwide and account for substantial use of healthcare resources. Physicians must adopt practices focused on improving outcomes and serum biomarker can help them in the management of patients with LRTI. Several studies have been carried out or are currently ongoing to evaluate the role of various biomarkers for the differential diagnosis, definition of prognosis, treatment and duration of antibiotic therapy in respiratory infections. The objective of this position paper of the Italian Society of Respiratory Diseases (SIMER) is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the use of biomarkers in routine clinical practice in the management of adult patients with LRTI. These guidelines capture the use of biomarkers both outside and inside the hospital, focused on community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hospitalacquired and ventilator-acquired pneumonia. (C) 2012 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.