Table 1. How a biomarker, levels of which increase in sepsis, can be used to answer clinically important questions.

Clinical question	Sepsis Marker
	Increases or stays high	Low or decreasing
Is the patient infected?	Suggests antibiotics should be considered	Suggests may not need antibiotics
	Suggests need to search for a source of infection	Suggests additional investigations for infection could be postponed
Is the condition serious?	Suggests admission to hospital or intensive care unit may be warranted	Suggests patient discharge home or transfer to regular floor could be considered
Is the patient responding to treatment?	Suggests antibiotic therapy may need to be reassessed	Suggests treatment is effective and could be continued (reassurance)
	Suggests may need to assess need for (re)operation	Suggest antibiotic therapy could perhaps be stopped?