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Procalcitonin has been shown to be a potentially useful biomarker for diagnosing bacterial sepsis. Researchers in France evaluated whether an algorithm for antibiotic treatment based on procalcitonin levels would reduce antibiotic use. In a prospective, multicenter, open-label trial conducted at eight intensive care units (ICUs), 621 critically ill adult patients with suspected bacterial infections were randomized to antibiotic management according to an algorithm (procalcitonin group) or current guidelines (control group). In the procalcitonin group, serum procalcitonin levels measured at enrollment and every morning for 28 days were used to determine whether to begin and continue antibiotic therapy, according to the following guidelines:
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