Table 1 PICOS criteria for included studies

Population

Adult (> 17 years of age), with sepsis (including severe sepsis, septic shock or sepsis with DIC) or suspicion of sepsis

Intervention

Measurement of PC in the blood within 24 h of study enrollment

Comparator

N/A

Outcomes

Prognostic outcomes: (1) PC biomarker levels in survivors vs. non-survivors and (2) the prognostic accuracy of protein C for sepsis-related mortality

Diagnostic outcomes: (1) PC biomarker levels in septic vs. non-septic patients; (2) the diagnostic accuracy of protein C for sepsis; (3) PC biomarker levels in septic patients with and without DIC; and (4) the diagnostic accuracy of PC for sepsis-induced DIC

Study Design

Prospective observational studies